This past off-season, righthander Jesse Chavez was a man with no team. Chavez ended the 2009 season 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 73 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Akinori Iwamura. Six weeks later, the Rays sent Chavez to the Braves in a deal for fellow reliever Rafael Soriano and suddenly Chavez had an even newer team. Despite the two trades, Chavez says that he finally feels like he has found a home in Atlanta. "It was kind of a whirlwind, to get traded twice. I was excited to come down here." Chavez packed his gear up and made his way to the Braves spring training complex where he earned a spot in the team's bullpen. "It is a great group of guys; this is a great mesh of personalities."
So far this season,(NOTE: This was written for a Score Atlanta piece that went up on the site earlier this week) Chavez and his mid-90s fastball has appeared in twelve games, allowing 19 hits in 15.1 innings of work. Chavez's strikeout to walk ratio is 5.33 to one as he has K'd 16 of the 51 batters he's faced while walking just three. Despite the big arm, Chavez realizes that pitching is just like real estate, as location is king. "You can have a good fastball, but it's nothing if it's right down the middle." At this level, hitters can turn on a 97 mph fastball if it is right down the heart of the plate. Chavez respects that aspect of major league hitters, and that is why he is "focused" on location. "My thing going in is to try and spot (the fastball) to set up everything else."
Chavez was drafted by the Cubs in 2001 and then drafted again in 2002 by the Rangers, before getting traded to Pittsburgh in 2006. He made his debut in 2008, appearing in 15 games for the Pirates at the age of 24. Last season, Chavez showed that he could really stick in the majors with 73 appearances, but he recognizes the opportunity he has in Atlanta's bullpen this season. With a Hall of Fame-caliber closer in Billy Wagner as well as former closer Takashi Saito as role models, Chavez is soaking it all up. "It's everything you'd want as a young pitcher, to work with a guy (in Wagner) with his credentials." Chavez is trying to sponge as much info as he can from Wagner, before the current Braves closer hangs it up at the end of the season. He does it by simply talking baseball with the lefty. "We talk baseball all day long. It is a fun conversation, about how to set up guys and how to get better." Wagner agrees, calling Chavez one of the impressive young arms in the Atlanta organization along with Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters.
Chavez is getting opportunities in the Braves pen and he is just one of the many young arms that could be a major factor in the Braves run for a postseason berth this postseason. After an off-season of two trades, it seems as though the strong-armed Chavez has a spot in the Braves pen for a while. "I think I do have a home now."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Eric Hinske RULES
Note: This is the cover story for this week's Score Atlanta. Go pick it up or at least go to www.scoreatl.com to give it a click. Thanks
Before a recent game against the division-rival New York Mets, Braves super-utility man Eric Hinske had a different New York ballclub on his mind as he watched highlights in the Braves clubhouse. “Check it out, Rivera gave up a grand slam,” said Hinske of his former teammate to no current teammate in particular. Hinske has been a bit of a floater around major league baseball in recent years, playing for his sixth team since the start of the 2006 season. Hinske has gone from team to team and in the process collecting a pair of World Series rings, one from Boston in 2007 and one from the Yankees in 2009 with a trip to the World Series in 2008 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Before this season Hinske was brought into Atlanta to provide a spark off of the bench as well as a lockerroom presence that the team did not have over the last few seasons. Hinske though over the last few weeks has been more than just a force off of the bench. Hinske was inserted into the outfield with the injury to Matt Diaz and the left-handed hitter has put up huge numbers. Since May 11, Hinske has seen his average rise from .314 to .368 and might have earned National League player of the week his first week in left if not for a monster week from Martin Prado. Hinske has provided four home runs in the last two weeks and his RBI totals have climbed to third highest on the team, despite far fewer at-bats than the two ahead of him.
But does Hinske mind only now getting his due and seemingly a full-time gig for the Braves? Hinske is so laid back that he doesn’t seem to mind where he plays. “Whereever I can get some playing time. I can play all four corners.” This season in addition to the role of pinch hitter, Hinske has appeared as a leftfielder as well as first base and third base. “I do whatever I can do to help the team whenever I’m on the lineup card.”
Hinske broke into the major leagues as a third baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays, belting 24 home runs and capturing Rookie of the Year honors. Towards the end of his tenure in Toronto, Hinske started moving around, playing some as DH, some at first, a few games at third and some in the outfield. Said Hinske of his time in Toronto, “It is a great city. I loved playing in Canada,” though he did hint at the possibility that Toronto is more of a hockey city. “They’re just a little more wrapped up in the Maple Leafs than the Blue Jays.” His next stop was certainly not a hockey town. Hinske was acquired by the Boston Red Sox for his versatility as the saber-metric loving Sox organization loved that Hinske was an on-base machine that could play anyone of five positions in the American League. Hinske appeared in each round of Boston’s run to the World Series title in 2007. Rather than re-up with the defending champs, the 30-year-old Hinske signed with AL East rival Tampa Bay. Hinske enjoyed his second-most offensively productive season with the Rays as Tampa went all the way to the World Series before losing to Philadelphia.
After earning two straight pennants in the American League, Hinske ventured over to the senior circuit for the first time in his career. Despite being an AL East guy for his entire career, Hinske said that the leagues aren’t that much different. “The pitcher hits over here (in the National League). That’s the only difference.” Hinske called Pittsburgh home for most of the season but at the trading deadline, the AL East beckoned again, and this time New York was the destination. The Yankees acquired Hinske to play some rightfield and to spell A-Rod at third, and once again Hinske found himself in a lockerroom celebrating an AL Pennant. For the second time in three years Hinske also got to celebrate a world championship as the Yankees knocked out the Phillies for the franchise’s 27th World Series Championship.
Now Hinske is back in the National League with Atlanta and it doesn’t appear to be any different than last year when he was in Pittsburgh. “It’s a little more of an off-speed league over in the American League. They (AL pitchers) throw a lot more off speed pitches in hitters’ counts, but they do that here too.” If there was any adjustment period for Hinske, it certainly hasn’t been a problem recently. Hinske has slugged at a .706 clip this year but .857 in the month of May. Hinske’s on-base percentage has also climbed to over .458 this month, .421 for the year.
To call Hinske a professional hitter wouldn’t be appropriate, despite the fact that he can flat out rake. He homered twice off of his former club the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Braves recent trip up to PNC Park, but Hinske’s locker has the various gloves of positions he can play. If you show up early, Hinske can very well be taking fielding practice at either first, third or either of the two corner outfield spots. Going on fielding statistics, Hinske has been perfect in the outfield as well as at third base and has made just one error at first in 41 innings over eight games at first.
If Hinske keeps hitting and fielding as well as he has been since moving into the lineup on a full-time basis, the Braves playoff chances might just keep improving. Since Hinske entered the lineup on May 10, the Braves have gone 10-3 and are 5-1 on the road. It may just be a coincidence but it is hard to believe that it hasn’t been in large part because of Hinske that Atlanta has taken off. Hinske may be retired from getting tattoos, “I’m sick of getting tattoos,” but hopefully Hinske isn’t sick of playoff baseball. He could be the catalyst that gets the Braves back to the postseason, a place he has certainly been familiar with the last few years.
Before a recent game against the division-rival New York Mets, Braves super-utility man Eric Hinske had a different New York ballclub on his mind as he watched highlights in the Braves clubhouse. “Check it out, Rivera gave up a grand slam,” said Hinske of his former teammate to no current teammate in particular. Hinske has been a bit of a floater around major league baseball in recent years, playing for his sixth team since the start of the 2006 season. Hinske has gone from team to team and in the process collecting a pair of World Series rings, one from Boston in 2007 and one from the Yankees in 2009 with a trip to the World Series in 2008 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Before this season Hinske was brought into Atlanta to provide a spark off of the bench as well as a lockerroom presence that the team did not have over the last few seasons. Hinske though over the last few weeks has been more than just a force off of the bench. Hinske was inserted into the outfield with the injury to Matt Diaz and the left-handed hitter has put up huge numbers. Since May 11, Hinske has seen his average rise from .314 to .368 and might have earned National League player of the week his first week in left if not for a monster week from Martin Prado. Hinske has provided four home runs in the last two weeks and his RBI totals have climbed to third highest on the team, despite far fewer at-bats than the two ahead of him.
But does Hinske mind only now getting his due and seemingly a full-time gig for the Braves? Hinske is so laid back that he doesn’t seem to mind where he plays. “Whereever I can get some playing time. I can play all four corners.” This season in addition to the role of pinch hitter, Hinske has appeared as a leftfielder as well as first base and third base. “I do whatever I can do to help the team whenever I’m on the lineup card.”
Hinske broke into the major leagues as a third baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays, belting 24 home runs and capturing Rookie of the Year honors. Towards the end of his tenure in Toronto, Hinske started moving around, playing some as DH, some at first, a few games at third and some in the outfield. Said Hinske of his time in Toronto, “It is a great city. I loved playing in Canada,” though he did hint at the possibility that Toronto is more of a hockey city. “They’re just a little more wrapped up in the Maple Leafs than the Blue Jays.” His next stop was certainly not a hockey town. Hinske was acquired by the Boston Red Sox for his versatility as the saber-metric loving Sox organization loved that Hinske was an on-base machine that could play anyone of five positions in the American League. Hinske appeared in each round of Boston’s run to the World Series title in 2007. Rather than re-up with the defending champs, the 30-year-old Hinske signed with AL East rival Tampa Bay. Hinske enjoyed his second-most offensively productive season with the Rays as Tampa went all the way to the World Series before losing to Philadelphia.
After earning two straight pennants in the American League, Hinske ventured over to the senior circuit for the first time in his career. Despite being an AL East guy for his entire career, Hinske said that the leagues aren’t that much different. “The pitcher hits over here (in the National League). That’s the only difference.” Hinske called Pittsburgh home for most of the season but at the trading deadline, the AL East beckoned again, and this time New York was the destination. The Yankees acquired Hinske to play some rightfield and to spell A-Rod at third, and once again Hinske found himself in a lockerroom celebrating an AL Pennant. For the second time in three years Hinske also got to celebrate a world championship as the Yankees knocked out the Phillies for the franchise’s 27th World Series Championship.
Now Hinske is back in the National League with Atlanta and it doesn’t appear to be any different than last year when he was in Pittsburgh. “It’s a little more of an off-speed league over in the American League. They (AL pitchers) throw a lot more off speed pitches in hitters’ counts, but they do that here too.” If there was any adjustment period for Hinske, it certainly hasn’t been a problem recently. Hinske has slugged at a .706 clip this year but .857 in the month of May. Hinske’s on-base percentage has also climbed to over .458 this month, .421 for the year.
To call Hinske a professional hitter wouldn’t be appropriate, despite the fact that he can flat out rake. He homered twice off of his former club the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Braves recent trip up to PNC Park, but Hinske’s locker has the various gloves of positions he can play. If you show up early, Hinske can very well be taking fielding practice at either first, third or either of the two corner outfield spots. Going on fielding statistics, Hinske has been perfect in the outfield as well as at third base and has made just one error at first in 41 innings over eight games at first.
If Hinske keeps hitting and fielding as well as he has been since moving into the lineup on a full-time basis, the Braves playoff chances might just keep improving. Since Hinske entered the lineup on May 10, the Braves have gone 10-3 and are 5-1 on the road. It may just be a coincidence but it is hard to believe that it hasn’t been in large part because of Hinske that Atlanta has taken off. Hinske may be retired from getting tattoos, “I’m sick of getting tattoos,” but hopefully Hinske isn’t sick of playoff baseball. He could be the catalyst that gets the Braves back to the postseason, a place he has certainly been familiar with the last few years.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
If Basketball players were wrestlers....
Recently I was hosting my Sunday afternoon radio show (Sundays, 2-5 pm on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, check it out online at www.790thezone.com) when I got into a discussion with our Board Op Variable Mike about Rajon Rondo. He was saying how great Rondo was but I was reluctent to give him a place in the top 20 of all time. Sorry, he might be good now, but he is torching Ray Felton, Mo Williams and Jameer Nelson right now. Not difficult.
Anyways, I know Mike is a huge wrestling fan as is one of my co-host Brian Jones (he has done a few wrestling blogs for us here on SBF) so I decided to put Rajon Rondo's place in the game in wrestling terms. I argued that Rondo was John Cena, aka the best in the game right now but will ultimately just go down as a footnote in a transition period. Yes he ended up being better than Randy Orton and Edge aka Chris Paul and Deron Williams, but come on. In the grand scheme of things, Cena will be looked at as a punk that couldn't lick Flair's, Hogan's, HBK's, Sting's shoes. Same with Rondo. Yeah, he's good, but he is no Oscar, Nash, Thomas, Magic, etc
Mike and Brian actually thought that was a pretty good comparison. So that got me thinking about other BBallers and who they would be if they were wrestlers.....
(I have WAY too much time on my hands)
Steve Nash would be the Macho Man. Much like the Macho Man, Nash was never the best when he played, though he did win two MVPs/heavyweight titles, thus carrying the WWF/NBA for a few years. Nash always had Shaq though that everyone knew was the best while Macho always had Hogan, who was too busy facing Andre the Giant.
Isiah Thomas=Bret Hart. Very good, maybe even considered to be the best by purists, but never truly loved. And they always thought they were better than they really were. And you can relate the Bret Hart walkout after HBK (a more loved wrestler with a higher ceiling in what should have been a torch-passing moment) to Thomas's walkout before the game was over when the Bulls swept the Pistons out of the playoffs in 1991 (by a more revered player with a higher ceiling in what WAS a torch-passing moment)
Kobe=HBK, simply the best of his generation and perhaps the second-best ever, behind MJ/Flair
LeBron=The Rock. Could have been the best but was/is too distracted with too many other distractions. LeBron wants to be the Global Icon instead of an all-time player and The Rock wanted to play The Tooth Fairy instead of wrestle Cena and put Cena in his place.
Dwight Howard=Batista. A big dude that isn't really that good but we've been told he's good, but once you watch him in a big moment against a big-time opponent, he just isn't.
Bruce Bowen= Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man. Always cheating but always sporting some hardware. DiBiase was always a tagteam champ with Money Inc or always an intercontinental champ, much like Bowen won a fistful of rings with the Spurs.
Demolition=The NJ Nets of the Early 2000s. The Nets were in the EC Finals and NBA finals for a stretch of years because everyone else really sucked those years, much like Demolition was always in the hunt for the WWF tag team titles because the competition was so weak. Honestly, Demolition couldn't hold a candle to LoD or the Hart Foundation, just like the Nets couldn't beat the Spurs or Lakers with a 2 game lead in a best-of-seven.
Robert Horry=X-Pac/Sixx/1-2-3Kid. Always around the action, sometimes playing a key role in various storylines, but never the top dog; in fact sucking a nice run off of the top dogs, but still has respect. X-Pac had nWo and D-X (Nash and Hulk as Shaq and Kobe, and Duncan and Parker as HHH and HBK), Horry had the Rockets, Spurs and Lakers. always around the action but never the main guy.
Finally, I had Kevin Nash as Tim Duncan, as in carrying the WWF then WCW as nWo but always overshadowed by HBK (Shaq) or Goldberg (Garnett) or Hogan (Kobe). Variable fought with me on this one. He said I WAY overvalued Nash, but I think I'm right on.
Actually, I'm probably a dork for sitting around and thinking about this. Yeah...
Anyways, I know Mike is a huge wrestling fan as is one of my co-host Brian Jones (he has done a few wrestling blogs for us here on SBF) so I decided to put Rajon Rondo's place in the game in wrestling terms. I argued that Rondo was John Cena, aka the best in the game right now but will ultimately just go down as a footnote in a transition period. Yes he ended up being better than Randy Orton and Edge aka Chris Paul and Deron Williams, but come on. In the grand scheme of things, Cena will be looked at as a punk that couldn't lick Flair's, Hogan's, HBK's, Sting's shoes. Same with Rondo. Yeah, he's good, but he is no Oscar, Nash, Thomas, Magic, etc
Mike and Brian actually thought that was a pretty good comparison. So that got me thinking about other BBallers and who they would be if they were wrestlers.....
(I have WAY too much time on my hands)
Steve Nash would be the Macho Man. Much like the Macho Man, Nash was never the best when he played, though he did win two MVPs/heavyweight titles, thus carrying the WWF/NBA for a few years. Nash always had Shaq though that everyone knew was the best while Macho always had Hogan, who was too busy facing Andre the Giant.
Isiah Thomas=Bret Hart. Very good, maybe even considered to be the best by purists, but never truly loved. And they always thought they were better than they really were. And you can relate the Bret Hart walkout after HBK (a more loved wrestler with a higher ceiling in what should have been a torch-passing moment) to Thomas's walkout before the game was over when the Bulls swept the Pistons out of the playoffs in 1991 (by a more revered player with a higher ceiling in what WAS a torch-passing moment)
Kobe=HBK, simply the best of his generation and perhaps the second-best ever, behind MJ/Flair
LeBron=The Rock. Could have been the best but was/is too distracted with too many other distractions. LeBron wants to be the Global Icon instead of an all-time player and The Rock wanted to play The Tooth Fairy instead of wrestle Cena and put Cena in his place.
Dwight Howard=Batista. A big dude that isn't really that good but we've been told he's good, but once you watch him in a big moment against a big-time opponent, he just isn't.
Bruce Bowen= Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man. Always cheating but always sporting some hardware. DiBiase was always a tagteam champ with Money Inc or always an intercontinental champ, much like Bowen won a fistful of rings with the Spurs.
Demolition=The NJ Nets of the Early 2000s. The Nets were in the EC Finals and NBA finals for a stretch of years because everyone else really sucked those years, much like Demolition was always in the hunt for the WWF tag team titles because the competition was so weak. Honestly, Demolition couldn't hold a candle to LoD or the Hart Foundation, just like the Nets couldn't beat the Spurs or Lakers with a 2 game lead in a best-of-seven.
Robert Horry=X-Pac/Sixx/1-2-3Kid. Always around the action, sometimes playing a key role in various storylines, but never the top dog; in fact sucking a nice run off of the top dogs, but still has respect. X-Pac had nWo and D-X (Nash and Hulk as Shaq and Kobe, and Duncan and Parker as HHH and HBK), Horry had the Rockets, Spurs and Lakers. always around the action but never the main guy.
Finally, I had Kevin Nash as Tim Duncan, as in carrying the WWF then WCW as nWo but always overshadowed by HBK (Shaq) or Goldberg (Garnett) or Hogan (Kobe). Variable fought with me on this one. He said I WAY overvalued Nash, but I think I'm right on.
Actually, I'm probably a dork for sitting around and thinking about this. Yeah...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Post No.1000 is....TheFletch!
This is a big milestone, blogpost No.1000. It is last week/this week's edition of TheFletch. Be sure to pick up your copy or visit www.scoreatl.com
The Falcons have not been getting the love on a national scene like last season, but Brandon Adams of 790 The Zone does like one Falcon in particular: Roddy White. Said Adams of White recently on Brandon and Woolvy, “Roddy White is the best player on the Falcons.” Adams would go on to claim that White is the most underrated player in all of Atlanta sports. This is a bold statement, considering that White has made Pro Bowls in the past and was given a huge contract extension by the team before last season. The team must agree with Adams but perhaps he is right. Do the fans appreciate White like they should? I doubt the holdout caused any fans to really brew up hatred towards White considering last year’s holdout ended well before any preseason games were even threatening to begin.
I went to one of our Falcons beat writers here at Score Atlanta for verification on Adams’ comment that White is the best Dirty Bird. Brian Jones, who has spent countless weekends up in Flowery Branch in his career, disagrees with BA. “I think Michael Turner is better when healthy. But Roddy is up there.”…Speaking of Jones, last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, Jones said that Matt Ryan is looking as sharp as ever, firing passes with zip and encouraging his teammates like a true leader. “He’s as good as I’ve seen him yet,” Jones proclaimed on the show, before predicting a Pro Bowl year and a playoff berth for Atlanta. Peter King of Sports Illustrated sadly did not concur with Jones. In his off-season Early Look NFL Power Poll, King has the Falcons as the sixteenth best team in the league, which would put them just out of the playoffs. The esteemed NFL writer said of Atlanta, “The Falcons are healthier, and better. I just think there are two teams in the division better right now -- unless Matt Ryan has a Drew Brees-type year. I don't think he has one of those in him ... yet. Not many quarterbacks do.” NFC South rivals Carolina checked in at No. 8 and New Orleans at No. 5.
Is Atlanta media too soft?
I had a chance to sit down with Braves closer Billy Wagner and the topics ranged from his fast-approaching retirement, his post-career plans, Atlanta’s young arms and finally, the Atlanta media. I asked Wagner about the difference closing a game in Atlanta vs. closing a game in Philadelphia or Boston or New York, previous stops for Wagner in a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Wagner’s answer was a very honest opinion from someone that has dealt with the New York media frenzy as well as the Philadelphia media zoo. “As far as the criticism and the hype, you've got more newspapers and broadcasters that can talk about you [in those other places]. It's definitely easier here because you don't have to deal with a lot but as far as on the field, it is still the same.” Wagner was openly saying what every sports fan in Atlanta knew. As a member of the Atlanta media, I find it hilarious when a hard-line is taken against a coach or athlete and the person in question raises such a stink because he/she feels that he/she is being treated unfairly. Paul Hewitt recently cried that Mark Bradley of the AJC was personally attacking him when Bradley wrote a few columns asking if it was time for a change. Mike Bell of 790’s Pollack & Bell constantly harps on this point, saying that if the athletes and/or coaches think THIS water is hot, don’t ever venture to Boston or Chicago. I agree with Bell and Wagner in this case. The teams in Atlanta tend to be protected and shielded from harsh criticism, often seeking out other forms of media to voice displeasure when “slighted” by one form. Perhaps if the coaches/athletes were held to a higher standard by the media maybe…
Everything turned out OK…sort of,
Finally, Frank Wren was interviewed recently by the AJC’s Jeff Schultz and in the article, Wren defended the Mark Teixeira trade from 2007. Said Wren in the interview, which originally ran in April but was referenced last week in a piece about Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s inability to throw the ball back to the pitcher, “The Teixeira trade hasn’t impacted us at all. If you look at the players we gave up, I’m not sure it’s had any effect on the major league club.” Wren went on to argue that the team had Yunel Escobar ahead of Elvis Andrus in the organization’s shortstop depth chart as well as Brian McCann ahead of Saltalamacchia at catcher. Wren also noted that Neftali Feliz would just be in the Braves bullpen, much like he is in the pen for Texas. (Atlanta gave up a few pitchers too that haven’t really amounted to anything more than 20 wins in 2+ seasons.) The Braves felt the team was one bopper away from a playoff run, or two, and GM-at-the-time John Schuerholz pulled the trigger. Let me first say that I remember what I wrote a few paragraphs ago about the media protecting the local teams, but I agree with Wren. Andrus has only this year been the full-time shortstop and while a slick fielder, he cannot hit like Escobar can. Salty is having trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher and is in the minors, as Schultz so humorously reported. (He compared him to Rube Baker of the Major League 2 movie.) As far as Feliz, yes, he’d be nice to have in the pen, but consider this: if the Braves had not pulled the trigger on that deal and stayed away from Tex, then those prospects may have encouraged Frank Wren to trade for Jake Peavy before the 2009 season. The asking price that was leaked to the San Diego media if you remember was starting pitcher Tommy Hanson, shortstop Yunel Escobar and at least another prospect, perhaps first baseman Freddie Freeman. Imagine if that trade had gone down because the Braves believed that Feliz and Andrus could have just stepped in? Likely these prospects would have been used to maybe acquire a leftfielder or another first baseman, but it is hard to fault the Braves for pulling the trigger on a deal that seemed like a no-brainer that everyone was on board with at the time.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“In fact, it (Rick Sund’s wikipedia entry) makes him sound rather like an itinerant house-sitter.” That was the AJC’s Steve Hummer, describing what Rick Sund’s Wikipedia page said about the Hawks GM. I am all for going a creative route for a story but Wikipedia? Anyone can go on there and put what they want for that. Now if his NBA.com page said that, then that would be something to report. But not Wikipedia.
The Falcons have not been getting the love on a national scene like last season, but Brandon Adams of 790 The Zone does like one Falcon in particular: Roddy White. Said Adams of White recently on Brandon and Woolvy, “Roddy White is the best player on the Falcons.” Adams would go on to claim that White is the most underrated player in all of Atlanta sports. This is a bold statement, considering that White has made Pro Bowls in the past and was given a huge contract extension by the team before last season. The team must agree with Adams but perhaps he is right. Do the fans appreciate White like they should? I doubt the holdout caused any fans to really brew up hatred towards White considering last year’s holdout ended well before any preseason games were even threatening to begin.
I went to one of our Falcons beat writers here at Score Atlanta for verification on Adams’ comment that White is the best Dirty Bird. Brian Jones, who has spent countless weekends up in Flowery Branch in his career, disagrees with BA. “I think Michael Turner is better when healthy. But Roddy is up there.”…Speaking of Jones, last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, Jones said that Matt Ryan is looking as sharp as ever, firing passes with zip and encouraging his teammates like a true leader. “He’s as good as I’ve seen him yet,” Jones proclaimed on the show, before predicting a Pro Bowl year and a playoff berth for Atlanta. Peter King of Sports Illustrated sadly did not concur with Jones. In his off-season Early Look NFL Power Poll, King has the Falcons as the sixteenth best team in the league, which would put them just out of the playoffs. The esteemed NFL writer said of Atlanta, “The Falcons are healthier, and better. I just think there are two teams in the division better right now -- unless Matt Ryan has a Drew Brees-type year. I don't think he has one of those in him ... yet. Not many quarterbacks do.” NFC South rivals Carolina checked in at No. 8 and New Orleans at No. 5.
Is Atlanta media too soft?
I had a chance to sit down with Braves closer Billy Wagner and the topics ranged from his fast-approaching retirement, his post-career plans, Atlanta’s young arms and finally, the Atlanta media. I asked Wagner about the difference closing a game in Atlanta vs. closing a game in Philadelphia or Boston or New York, previous stops for Wagner in a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Wagner’s answer was a very honest opinion from someone that has dealt with the New York media frenzy as well as the Philadelphia media zoo. “As far as the criticism and the hype, you've got more newspapers and broadcasters that can talk about you [in those other places]. It's definitely easier here because you don't have to deal with a lot but as far as on the field, it is still the same.” Wagner was openly saying what every sports fan in Atlanta knew. As a member of the Atlanta media, I find it hilarious when a hard-line is taken against a coach or athlete and the person in question raises such a stink because he/she feels that he/she is being treated unfairly. Paul Hewitt recently cried that Mark Bradley of the AJC was personally attacking him when Bradley wrote a few columns asking if it was time for a change. Mike Bell of 790’s Pollack & Bell constantly harps on this point, saying that if the athletes and/or coaches think THIS water is hot, don’t ever venture to Boston or Chicago. I agree with Bell and Wagner in this case. The teams in Atlanta tend to be protected and shielded from harsh criticism, often seeking out other forms of media to voice displeasure when “slighted” by one form. Perhaps if the coaches/athletes were held to a higher standard by the media maybe…
Everything turned out OK…sort of,
Finally, Frank Wren was interviewed recently by the AJC’s Jeff Schultz and in the article, Wren defended the Mark Teixeira trade from 2007. Said Wren in the interview, which originally ran in April but was referenced last week in a piece about Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s inability to throw the ball back to the pitcher, “The Teixeira trade hasn’t impacted us at all. If you look at the players we gave up, I’m not sure it’s had any effect on the major league club.” Wren went on to argue that the team had Yunel Escobar ahead of Elvis Andrus in the organization’s shortstop depth chart as well as Brian McCann ahead of Saltalamacchia at catcher. Wren also noted that Neftali Feliz would just be in the Braves bullpen, much like he is in the pen for Texas. (Atlanta gave up a few pitchers too that haven’t really amounted to anything more than 20 wins in 2+ seasons.) The Braves felt the team was one bopper away from a playoff run, or two, and GM-at-the-time John Schuerholz pulled the trigger. Let me first say that I remember what I wrote a few paragraphs ago about the media protecting the local teams, but I agree with Wren. Andrus has only this year been the full-time shortstop and while a slick fielder, he cannot hit like Escobar can. Salty is having trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher and is in the minors, as Schultz so humorously reported. (He compared him to Rube Baker of the Major League 2 movie.) As far as Feliz, yes, he’d be nice to have in the pen, but consider this: if the Braves had not pulled the trigger on that deal and stayed away from Tex, then those prospects may have encouraged Frank Wren to trade for Jake Peavy before the 2009 season. The asking price that was leaked to the San Diego media if you remember was starting pitcher Tommy Hanson, shortstop Yunel Escobar and at least another prospect, perhaps first baseman Freddie Freeman. Imagine if that trade had gone down because the Braves believed that Feliz and Andrus could have just stepped in? Likely these prospects would have been used to maybe acquire a leftfielder or another first baseman, but it is hard to fault the Braves for pulling the trigger on a deal that seemed like a no-brainer that everyone was on board with at the time.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“In fact, it (Rick Sund’s wikipedia entry) makes him sound rather like an itinerant house-sitter.” That was the AJC’s Steve Hummer, describing what Rick Sund’s Wikipedia page said about the Hawks GM. I am all for going a creative route for a story but Wikipedia? Anyone can go on there and put what they want for that. Now if his NBA.com page said that, then that would be something to report. But not Wikipedia.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Stop being afraid to be who you are!
There is a radio station that I am forced to listen to at work because they play generic music that won't offend anyone like apparently 99X would.
Recently this station ridded itself of half of its morning show tandem, keeping the female around and giving her the show. After a day I guess the higher-ups realized that she couldn't carry the show on her own and a male voice was needed. The Producer was then given more of a speaking role on the show.
Here is where I have a problem. Before I explain the problem, let me say that I am simply going on what I listen to on the station and I have zero inside information. Now that that is out of the way...
The male producer sounds (and not just the accent, but the content on which he speaks) like he is gay. Every time a "date" or significant other is referred to, it is always gender-free. The guy doesn't have a firm grip on anything sports related like the former co-host did. Not that that matters but every now and then you need to at least know the names of the teams in the final four. Finally this guy is REALLY excited about the new SEX & THE CITY movie. (Stereotyping I know, but let's be real. Stereotypes are based on real patterns people)
I don't have a problem with his being gay, but what I have a problem with is his still being closeted yet openly making allusions to it. I guess I just want him to just come out of the closet. You don't have to be like the guy called Queen or "Miss Sophia" from Dave FM; you can simply be a co-host that happens to be gay. If you don't feel comfortable being gay on the air, then stop alluding to it or ask the station to let you go back to your old role of barely speaking. If you are comfortable but the station won't let you openly be gay, tell the station to GO TO HELL! YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE!
I don't like the coyness with which this guy is going about his business. If you are gay, BE GAY. You don't need to hide it. And I don't mean you need to bust out like Nathan Lane if you do come out. If you personality is low-key, you can still be that way. And if he isn't gay and just a really effeminate hetero male, then the station needs to replace him with a GUY. That is what I believe the station was looking for when they told this producer to go on the air as the female voice couldn't carry the show on her own.
Don't be afraid to be yourself. Well, except that you stink on the air. Maybe pretend you are someone who IS talented...
Recently this station ridded itself of half of its morning show tandem, keeping the female around and giving her the show. After a day I guess the higher-ups realized that she couldn't carry the show on her own and a male voice was needed. The Producer was then given more of a speaking role on the show.
Here is where I have a problem. Before I explain the problem, let me say that I am simply going on what I listen to on the station and I have zero inside information. Now that that is out of the way...
The male producer sounds (and not just the accent, but the content on which he speaks) like he is gay. Every time a "date" or significant other is referred to, it is always gender-free. The guy doesn't have a firm grip on anything sports related like the former co-host did. Not that that matters but every now and then you need to at least know the names of the teams in the final four. Finally this guy is REALLY excited about the new SEX & THE CITY movie. (Stereotyping I know, but let's be real. Stereotypes are based on real patterns people)
I don't have a problem with his being gay, but what I have a problem with is his still being closeted yet openly making allusions to it. I guess I just want him to just come out of the closet. You don't have to be like the guy called Queen or "Miss Sophia" from Dave FM; you can simply be a co-host that happens to be gay. If you don't feel comfortable being gay on the air, then stop alluding to it or ask the station to let you go back to your old role of barely speaking. If you are comfortable but the station won't let you openly be gay, tell the station to GO TO HELL! YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE!
I don't like the coyness with which this guy is going about his business. If you are gay, BE GAY. You don't need to hide it. And I don't mean you need to bust out like Nathan Lane if you do come out. If you personality is low-key, you can still be that way. And if he isn't gay and just a really effeminate hetero male, then the station needs to replace him with a GUY. That is what I believe the station was looking for when they told this producer to go on the air as the female voice couldn't carry the show on her own.
Don't be afraid to be yourself. Well, except that you stink on the air. Maybe pretend you are someone who IS talented...
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Mr. Georgia Basketball going to....Georgia
Nice work Mark Fox. This commitment really takes the sting out of losing Dwayne Poole. In case you didn't hear what happened, Thornton of Westlake committed in the early signing period to Clemson to play for Oliver Purnell. Then all of a sudden, Thornton went crazy his senior season, leading his team to a 30-3 record and the state finals, where he didn't play because of a freak injury. I watched this guy play in the semis....he dominated. Way better than Jalen Kendrick, in my opinion.
Then Oliver Purnell left Klimpsen for DePaul (Not the Body's new nickname) and Thornton wanted out of Klimpsen (who wouldn't?) and the Tigers said OK
He became the biggest prize on the scene and UK, Memphis (and Kendrick), Bama, Texas, GT, the Dawgs, UNC, EVERYBODY was after him. He went on a big campus tour and decided yesterday on Georgia and Mark Fox. He told the AJC that he wanted to be a part of something big. Now he has a shot as Mark Fox really cleaned up in the late signing period, especially in-state to make me feel better about his ability to get the local talent. Because I am really all that matters right?
Seriously, I am PUMPED about this signing class of PF/C 6'8 Cady Lalanne (Florida), G Sherrard Brantley (Dublin, GA through Florida juco), PF 6'9 Donte Williams (Miller Grove) and now ComboForward 6'7 Thornton (Westlake). I also count Gerald Robinson Jr in this class, despite the fact that he was coutned last season. But he didn't play! I think Brantley is thrown into the starting lineup over Robinson as he has the most experience of all of the newcomers and Fox compares him to McPhee in terms of shooting, but "a bit" more athletic. Though one could argue that Robinson has more experience, but his position is the one that Leslie is currently occupying, so Brantley plays the McPhee wing. Lalanne, Williams and Thornton will be nice forwards/Posts off of the bench that Georgia can attempt to outathlete teams. Throw in Anyaorah and Robinson with Williams and this team is deep. In terms of this recruiting class, I also don't think any of these guys are one-and-dones, which means that the 2011-12 team should look pretty talented too with Ware, Brantley, Thornton, Lalanne, Thornton going out there and Williams and Robinson and Anyaorah off the bench. (And maybe Daijon Parker and Julian Royal too as freshmen? Too much to ask for?)
Here is how I see this season's lineup....
starters:
PG Danny Ware jr
SG Travis Leslie (He wants to play SG this season to get ready for the NBA) jr
SF/Wing/SG Sherrard Brantley sop first year with ga
PF Trey Thompkins jr
C Jeremy Price sr
Bench
PG Vincent Williams sop
SG Ebuka Anyaorah redshirt sop
G/W/SF Gerald Robinson Jr sop? first year with Ga
PF Marcus Thornton freshman
PF/Donte Williams freshman
PF/C Cady Lalanne freshman
C Chris Barnes sr
This team should be READY for SEC play. I will honestly say that an NIT berth is a LOCK, and an NCAA berth looking pretty good. Hopefully Fox gets his Hounds ready to rock this season. In the SEC East, UK will reload with freshmen talent and Florida is pretty good (though we split with them last year). Tennessee I would say loses some talent, but they lost talent last season DURING THE YEAR and still nearly made the Final Four.
Let's be honest, I spent a pretty good portion of my trip to Cabo daydreaming about this team. They certainly have the potential and if Thompkins gets even a little bit better from last season, he could be player of the year. Same with Leslie. If he grows like he did last year, watch out.
Fox showed last year he can coach with minimal groceries. Now he is stocking the shelves with in-state talent. Jump on the train now. The bandwagon is growing.
Then Oliver Purnell left Klimpsen for DePaul (Not the Body's new nickname) and Thornton wanted out of Klimpsen (who wouldn't?) and the Tigers said OK
He became the biggest prize on the scene and UK, Memphis (and Kendrick), Bama, Texas, GT, the Dawgs, UNC, EVERYBODY was after him. He went on a big campus tour and decided yesterday on Georgia and Mark Fox. He told the AJC that he wanted to be a part of something big. Now he has a shot as Mark Fox really cleaned up in the late signing period, especially in-state to make me feel better about his ability to get the local talent. Because I am really all that matters right?
Seriously, I am PUMPED about this signing class of PF/C 6'8 Cady Lalanne (Florida), G Sherrard Brantley (Dublin, GA through Florida juco), PF 6'9 Donte Williams (Miller Grove) and now ComboForward 6'7 Thornton (Westlake). I also count Gerald Robinson Jr in this class, despite the fact that he was coutned last season. But he didn't play! I think Brantley is thrown into the starting lineup over Robinson as he has the most experience of all of the newcomers and Fox compares him to McPhee in terms of shooting, but "a bit" more athletic. Though one could argue that Robinson has more experience, but his position is the one that Leslie is currently occupying, so Brantley plays the McPhee wing. Lalanne, Williams and Thornton will be nice forwards/Posts off of the bench that Georgia can attempt to outathlete teams. Throw in Anyaorah and Robinson with Williams and this team is deep. In terms of this recruiting class, I also don't think any of these guys are one-and-dones, which means that the 2011-12 team should look pretty talented too with Ware, Brantley, Thornton, Lalanne, Thornton going out there and Williams and Robinson and Anyaorah off the bench. (And maybe Daijon Parker and Julian Royal too as freshmen? Too much to ask for?)
Here is how I see this season's lineup....
starters:
PG Danny Ware jr
SG Travis Leslie (He wants to play SG this season to get ready for the NBA) jr
SF/Wing/SG Sherrard Brantley sop first year with ga
PF Trey Thompkins jr
C Jeremy Price sr
Bench
PG Vincent Williams sop
SG Ebuka Anyaorah redshirt sop
G/W/SF Gerald Robinson Jr sop? first year with Ga
PF Marcus Thornton freshman
PF/Donte Williams freshman
PF/C Cady Lalanne freshman
C Chris Barnes sr
This team should be READY for SEC play. I will honestly say that an NIT berth is a LOCK, and an NCAA berth looking pretty good. Hopefully Fox gets his Hounds ready to rock this season. In the SEC East, UK will reload with freshmen talent and Florida is pretty good (though we split with them last year). Tennessee I would say loses some talent, but they lost talent last season DURING THE YEAR and still nearly made the Final Four.
Let's be honest, I spent a pretty good portion of my trip to Cabo daydreaming about this team. They certainly have the potential and if Thompkins gets even a little bit better from last season, he could be player of the year. Same with Leslie. If he grows like he did last year, watch out.
Fox showed last year he can coach with minimal groceries. Now he is stocking the shelves with in-state talent. Jump on the train now. The bandwagon is growing.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
It's the BRITISH Open, Paul. Quit being Scottish
Paul Mac has a problem with people (I guess like me) calling the British Open, "the British Open." Here is what Paul said to me yesterday...The “British” Open is not the “British” Open… it’s THE Open Championship. Tiger Woods has registered to play in THE Open Championship not The British Open. The US Open came along a long time after The Open championship… there is no real need to say “British…”
Paul, you know I love you brother, but seriously? Are you Irish? Scottish? A Limey Brit? I just have to disagree with you Body. Just because it is old, you think it should JUST be the OPEN without the "BRITISH?"
Honestly, without America, golf isn't what it is now. Why do you think so many Euros come to America to play golf? Tons. Paddy, Sergio, Rory, Seve, Monty, Paul Casey, Ian, the list goes on and on.
How many "Yanks" go across the pond to play in the European Tour?
ZERO. that's how many.
The British Open IS WHAT IT IS because of the US of A. They should feel lucky that we still go play in those cow pastures over there. Who would NOT be in favor of dropping the British open in favor of calling The Players Championship @ TPC Sawgrass the fourth major? Any title Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis have won shouldn't be a major.
Paul, you know I love you brother, but seriously? Are you Irish? Scottish? A Limey Brit? I just have to disagree with you Body. Just because it is old, you think it should JUST be the OPEN without the "BRITISH?"
Honestly, without America, golf isn't what it is now. Why do you think so many Euros come to America to play golf? Tons. Paddy, Sergio, Rory, Seve, Monty, Paul Casey, Ian, the list goes on and on.
How many "Yanks" go across the pond to play in the European Tour?
ZERO. that's how many.
The British Open IS WHAT IT IS because of the US of A. They should feel lucky that we still go play in those cow pastures over there. Who would NOT be in favor of dropping the British open in favor of calling The Players Championship @ TPC Sawgrass the fourth major? Any title Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis have won shouldn't be a major.
Big B's Georgia Tech Big Board for 2011 NSD
Brian Jones of Score Atlanta put together his Big Board for the uncommitted prospects that Georgia Tech is still going after. The list made its debut last night on Score Atlanta's Official Visit on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. For more of Big B, tune in this Sunday from 2-5 on 790 for the Score Atlanta Block Party.
10) Joel Hale: 6-4, 290-pound DT out of Indiana. Offers from Florida, Tech, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and others. Loves Florida and Ohio State, but has made a point to say how comfortable he felt at Tech. Very impressive speed and agility for a player his size. A great athlete and excels against the run and at rushing the passer. Would be a huge get for Tech.
9) Kaleb Johnson: OT 6-5, 280 pounds out of Jacksonville, Florida. Offers from Arkansas, Tech, Illinois, UNC, South Carolina, and South Florida. Tech is reportedly recruiting Johnson harder than any other team and he wants to go to the school that shows most interest, but Jackets will battle UNC, Rutgers and Florida State. Not a top athlete, but has ideal size and is a productive run blocker.
8) Chris Milton: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Charlton County. Has interest in Duke, Wake Forest, and Tech. Decent speed with good open-field moves. Can play CB or WR. Explosive wit the ball and would add a new dimension to Tech’s offense.
7) Brian Randolph: 6-0, 180-pound safety out of Kell. Says it is between Tech and Tennessee.
6) Erique Florence: 6-2, 181-pound safety out of Alabama. Very good relationship with Tech’s Charles Kelly, grew up a Falcons fan and loves the city. Have seen much of him against the pass, but he is a viscous hitter and a monster against the run. Tough to beat Auburn and Alabama, though.
5) A.J. Johnson: 6-3, 226-pound ILB out of Gainesville. Florida, Clemson, Auburn, an Auburn will be tough to beat, but Tech is the hometown team. Clemson and Florida are the teams to beat, both have great LB coaches: Durkin and Steele. Great athlete
4) James Vaughters: 6-2, 233-pound ILB out of Tucker. All-around player. Has a top eight of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, UNC, Ohio State, Stanford and USC. Has family in Ohio.
3) Ja’Juan Story: 6-3, 190-pound WR out of Florida. Tremendous speed and atheleticism for his size, and truly among the most coveted wideouts in America. He has named Florida, Miami and Ohio State his top three, saying each can send him to the NFL.
2) Nick Marshall: 6-2, 185-pound QB out of Wilcox County. Offers from Arkansas, FSU, Tech, Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Has a top three of Georgia, Georgia Tech and FSU. Quick release, with great accuracy and good at passing outside of the pocket. Decent arm strength. Would like to see him become a more impressive runner. Loves Bball and says FSU is recruiting him harder for basketball than Georgia.
1) Ray Drew: 6-5, 243-pound DE out of Thomas County Central. Tremendous size, athleticism and explosion, but just dominant against the pass and the run. FSU, Tech, Georgia, USC, Florida, Auburn.
PS, if you didn't tune in last night, you missed Kell safety Brian Randolph as well as Colquitt Co OT Xzavier Ward. Where the heck were you?
10) Joel Hale: 6-4, 290-pound DT out of Indiana. Offers from Florida, Tech, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and others. Loves Florida and Ohio State, but has made a point to say how comfortable he felt at Tech. Very impressive speed and agility for a player his size. A great athlete and excels against the run and at rushing the passer. Would be a huge get for Tech.
9) Kaleb Johnson: OT 6-5, 280 pounds out of Jacksonville, Florida. Offers from Arkansas, Tech, Illinois, UNC, South Carolina, and South Florida. Tech is reportedly recruiting Johnson harder than any other team and he wants to go to the school that shows most interest, but Jackets will battle UNC, Rutgers and Florida State. Not a top athlete, but has ideal size and is a productive run blocker.
8) Chris Milton: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Charlton County. Has interest in Duke, Wake Forest, and Tech. Decent speed with good open-field moves. Can play CB or WR. Explosive wit the ball and would add a new dimension to Tech’s offense.
7) Brian Randolph: 6-0, 180-pound safety out of Kell. Says it is between Tech and Tennessee.
6) Erique Florence: 6-2, 181-pound safety out of Alabama. Very good relationship with Tech’s Charles Kelly, grew up a Falcons fan and loves the city. Have seen much of him against the pass, but he is a viscous hitter and a monster against the run. Tough to beat Auburn and Alabama, though.
5) A.J. Johnson: 6-3, 226-pound ILB out of Gainesville. Florida, Clemson, Auburn, an Auburn will be tough to beat, but Tech is the hometown team. Clemson and Florida are the teams to beat, both have great LB coaches: Durkin and Steele. Great athlete
4) James Vaughters: 6-2, 233-pound ILB out of Tucker. All-around player. Has a top eight of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, UNC, Ohio State, Stanford and USC. Has family in Ohio.
3) Ja’Juan Story: 6-3, 190-pound WR out of Florida. Tremendous speed and atheleticism for his size, and truly among the most coveted wideouts in America. He has named Florida, Miami and Ohio State his top three, saying each can send him to the NFL.
2) Nick Marshall: 6-2, 185-pound QB out of Wilcox County. Offers from Arkansas, FSU, Tech, Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Has a top three of Georgia, Georgia Tech and FSU. Quick release, with great accuracy and good at passing outside of the pocket. Decent arm strength. Would like to see him become a more impressive runner. Loves Bball and says FSU is recruiting him harder for basketball than Georgia.
1) Ray Drew: 6-5, 243-pound DE out of Thomas County Central. Tremendous size, athleticism and explosion, but just dominant against the pass and the run. FSU, Tech, Georgia, USC, Florida, Auburn.
PS, if you didn't tune in last night, you missed Kell safety Brian Randolph as well as Colquitt Co OT Xzavier Ward. Where the heck were you?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Four Questions for Eric Hinske
I had a chance to sit down with the Braves Mr. Do-it-all Eric Hinske last night for a round of Four From Score, four questions just to see what is going on with the Braves outfielder/pinch hitter/first baseman. Just hours after the interview Hinske would hit his second home run and go 3-4 in a Braves 3-2 loss to the New York Mets.
FP: You are now in the National League after spending the last few years on three different AL pennant winners. As you try for a National League pennant, what are the differences that you’ve noticed?
EH: The Pitcher hits over here, that’s the only difference. I think they throw a little bit more of the fastball in this league. It’s a little more of an off-speed league over in the American League. They throw a lot more off speed pitches in hitter’s counts but, I mean, they do that here too. But it is a little bit more drastic in the other league.
FP: You’ve been playing a lot more in the outfield recently. Is that something you enjoy?
EH:Where ever I can get some playing time, you know? I don’t care. I can play all four corners. I do whatever I can do to help the team win whenever I’m on the lineup card.
FP: you were the 2002 Rookie of the year with the Toronto Blue Jays. What is it like playing America’s Pastime in Canada?
EH: -Sigh- It’s a hockey town, man. It’s not the most ideal baseball city, but it is a great city. I mean I loved playing in Canada, but they’re just a little more wrapped up in the Maple Leafs than the Blue Jays.
FP: Everyone has seen and heard about the tattoos, but have you gotten any new ones since you moved to Atlanta?
EH: Nah, I’m done, man. I’m sick of getting tattoos. It’s over.
FP: You are now in the National League after spending the last few years on three different AL pennant winners. As you try for a National League pennant, what are the differences that you’ve noticed?
EH: The Pitcher hits over here, that’s the only difference. I think they throw a little bit more of the fastball in this league. It’s a little more of an off-speed league over in the American League. They throw a lot more off speed pitches in hitter’s counts but, I mean, they do that here too. But it is a little bit more drastic in the other league.
FP: You’ve been playing a lot more in the outfield recently. Is that something you enjoy?
EH:Where ever I can get some playing time, you know? I don’t care. I can play all four corners. I do whatever I can do to help the team win whenever I’m on the lineup card.
FP: you were the 2002 Rookie of the year with the Toronto Blue Jays. What is it like playing America’s Pastime in Canada?
EH: -Sigh- It’s a hockey town, man. It’s not the most ideal baseball city, but it is a great city. I mean I loved playing in Canada, but they’re just a little more wrapped up in the Maple Leafs than the Blue Jays.
FP: Everyone has seen and heard about the tattoos, but have you gotten any new ones since you moved to Atlanta?
EH: Nah, I’m done, man. I’m sick of getting tattoos. It’s over.
Monday, May 17, 2010
TheFletch for the week of May 14-20
The biggest media story involving Atlanta last week was WITHOUT QUESTION the Hawks. The Hawks made the biggest splash but for all of the wrong reasons last week. As Atlanta faced the Orlando Magic, ESPN and ABC awarded the series Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown as an announcing crew. These two certainly are one of the top crews in NBA basketball and while not the A-team, certainly a B+ to be sure. Both Tirico and especially Brown were critical of the Hawks effort in the first two games of the series. Brown seemed openly frustrated by Josh Smith’s effort in the contests, calling Smith out by not running back on the defensive fastbreak. Brown has forgotten more about basketball than I will ever know, and it is nice when a commentator doesn’t just sugarcoat or gloss over the player’s effort because they are friends or they used to play together. I have heard about the athlete/coach code of not overly knocking a former teammate or charge, but it is refreshing to hear Brown and Jon Gruden and Bobby Knight tell it like it is up there in the booth. You don’t need a Simon Cowell impersonator to tear someone apart, but it is nice to hear that YES the player is loafing or the shortstop just plain MISSED that grounder.
The Hawks effort apparently was so bad in the first two losses to Orlando that upon arrival at Philips Arena, Tirico and Brown were nowhere to be seen and instead a crew including Doris Burke was calling the game. Not that Burke isn’t qualified to talk NBA, but come on. Couldn’t she do the WNBA and we have one of the seven former players that ESPN uses in studio to do the games? Does Burke REALLY know what it is like in an NBA lockerroom? No. Does she really know what it is like to even dunk? No. Call me sexist, whatever. Serve as a sideline reporter if you want to be involved. Don’t take a spot from someone that REALLY KNOWS the game. (Weird, normally I am calling out for the former jocks NOT to get jobs over the trained commentator/announcer, but in this case, come on. I could at least fake that I’ve been in the NBA. Doris Burke cannot.)
After the Magic annihilated the Hawks by 30 in Atlanta’s own building, Joe Johnson put his foot in his mouth in front of reporters and credit the AJC’s Michael Cunningham for following through on the story. Johnson told reporters after he had had time to cool off that he “could care less if they showed up or not.” That quote was NOT taken out of context. In fact, here is what Johnson said to Cunningham in Cunningham’s blog following last Saturday’s game: “That [the booing] doesn’t bother me and I hope it doesn’t bother anyone in this locker room. It’s about us in this locker room. We could care less if [fans] showed up.” Cunningham appeared on 790 The Zone Sunday morning and Sam Radin got him to set the exact scene of how the comment happened. Cunningham said that Johnson got out of the shower with a towel, walked up to reporters and addressed the booing with his statement. The next day, Johnson didn’t exactly take the comment back when given a chance, telling Cunningham, “In the heat of the battle you tend to say a lot of things. But it was tough, man. I was a little [ticked] off but I am over now.” Two parties need to be given gold stars here. First off, Johnson could have been a little “ticked” off after all of the hubbub that these comments surely brought to the AJC as well as to 790 The Zone. On my way to hosting Score Atlanta Sports Sunday I heard Sam taking call after call on the issue and the calls continued for over an hour into our show. The negative pub could have turned Johnson into Marcel Marceau whenever Cunningham approached him for a comment. But Johnson continued to talk to the AJC beat writer, so gold star to Johnson. Also, Cunningham himself earns a gold star for realizing he had a story and going with it, not in a malicious way but in the most-truthful and forthright way and even appearing on 790 to give the full background as well. Most reporters witnessed what happened when the Florida Gators beat writer went to his Orlando blog with an actual quote taken in context and Urban Meyer went crazy. That might scare some beat writers from going through with a story that needs to be told for fear of losing a job or beat if that guy that popped off tries to pull an Urban. Gold stars for both of the parties involved.
I caught the Braves Wrap Up show on 680 The Fan following the postgame show for the first time last weekend. The major format of the show, at least from what I heard is simply Steve West taking phone calls from everyone that couldn’t get through on the postgame show with Chuck Dowdle. I remember listening to the late, great Skip Carey on some of the Braves pregame shows back in the day and you could tell when Skip would get irritated with callers, and I must say that West has a bit of Skip in him. Perhaps it was just the one show I happened to tune into but West was Mr. Negative towards several callers. Just to make sure I didn’t catch him on an off-day, I tuned in the next day to the wrap up show and sure enough, Steve-hater was back, either giving inane stats that had zero to do with what the caller had said or simply ignoring callers’ questions. I enjoy West’s work during the high school football season but you cannot just disregard the callers’ thoughts and questions. That is the point of the show. I assume that if you anger enough people and the calls stop, the show likely will stop too. Don’t bite the hands that feed you, even if they ask 13 straight questions about Terry Pendleton.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“Josh Smith is kind of like George W. Bush.” Brandon Adams tried to say that Josh Smith’s attitude may be of a go-getter but we just see him appearing to loaf and pout and not care. Adams made the point that perhaps Bush was intelligent but we just saw the confused eyebrows furled up everyday in news segments. I don’t think anyone outside of Adams’ family enjoys and respects his radio work as much as I do, but I didn’t follow the “Josh Smith as W,” logic. In Brandon’s defense, he was three hours into a solo show.
The Hawks effort apparently was so bad in the first two losses to Orlando that upon arrival at Philips Arena, Tirico and Brown were nowhere to be seen and instead a crew including Doris Burke was calling the game. Not that Burke isn’t qualified to talk NBA, but come on. Couldn’t she do the WNBA and we have one of the seven former players that ESPN uses in studio to do the games? Does Burke REALLY know what it is like in an NBA lockerroom? No. Does she really know what it is like to even dunk? No. Call me sexist, whatever. Serve as a sideline reporter if you want to be involved. Don’t take a spot from someone that REALLY KNOWS the game. (Weird, normally I am calling out for the former jocks NOT to get jobs over the trained commentator/announcer, but in this case, come on. I could at least fake that I’ve been in the NBA. Doris Burke cannot.)
After the Magic annihilated the Hawks by 30 in Atlanta’s own building, Joe Johnson put his foot in his mouth in front of reporters and credit the AJC’s Michael Cunningham for following through on the story. Johnson told reporters after he had had time to cool off that he “could care less if they showed up or not.” That quote was NOT taken out of context. In fact, here is what Johnson said to Cunningham in Cunningham’s blog following last Saturday’s game: “That [the booing] doesn’t bother me and I hope it doesn’t bother anyone in this locker room. It’s about us in this locker room. We could care less if [fans] showed up.” Cunningham appeared on 790 The Zone Sunday morning and Sam Radin got him to set the exact scene of how the comment happened. Cunningham said that Johnson got out of the shower with a towel, walked up to reporters and addressed the booing with his statement. The next day, Johnson didn’t exactly take the comment back when given a chance, telling Cunningham, “In the heat of the battle you tend to say a lot of things. But it was tough, man. I was a little [ticked] off but I am over now.” Two parties need to be given gold stars here. First off, Johnson could have been a little “ticked” off after all of the hubbub that these comments surely brought to the AJC as well as to 790 The Zone. On my way to hosting Score Atlanta Sports Sunday I heard Sam taking call after call on the issue and the calls continued for over an hour into our show. The negative pub could have turned Johnson into Marcel Marceau whenever Cunningham approached him for a comment. But Johnson continued to talk to the AJC beat writer, so gold star to Johnson. Also, Cunningham himself earns a gold star for realizing he had a story and going with it, not in a malicious way but in the most-truthful and forthright way and even appearing on 790 to give the full background as well. Most reporters witnessed what happened when the Florida Gators beat writer went to his Orlando blog with an actual quote taken in context and Urban Meyer went crazy. That might scare some beat writers from going through with a story that needs to be told for fear of losing a job or beat if that guy that popped off tries to pull an Urban. Gold stars for both of the parties involved.
I caught the Braves Wrap Up show on 680 The Fan following the postgame show for the first time last weekend. The major format of the show, at least from what I heard is simply Steve West taking phone calls from everyone that couldn’t get through on the postgame show with Chuck Dowdle. I remember listening to the late, great Skip Carey on some of the Braves pregame shows back in the day and you could tell when Skip would get irritated with callers, and I must say that West has a bit of Skip in him. Perhaps it was just the one show I happened to tune into but West was Mr. Negative towards several callers. Just to make sure I didn’t catch him on an off-day, I tuned in the next day to the wrap up show and sure enough, Steve-hater was back, either giving inane stats that had zero to do with what the caller had said or simply ignoring callers’ questions. I enjoy West’s work during the high school football season but you cannot just disregard the callers’ thoughts and questions. That is the point of the show. I assume that if you anger enough people and the calls stop, the show likely will stop too. Don’t bite the hands that feed you, even if they ask 13 straight questions about Terry Pendleton.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“Josh Smith is kind of like George W. Bush.” Brandon Adams tried to say that Josh Smith’s attitude may be of a go-getter but we just see him appearing to loaf and pout and not care. Adams made the point that perhaps Bush was intelligent but we just saw the confused eyebrows furled up everyday in news segments. I don’t think anyone outside of Adams’ family enjoys and respects his radio work as much as I do, but I didn’t follow the “Josh Smith as W,” logic. In Brandon’s defense, he was three hours into a solo show.
The Youth Revolution: freshmen aren't just for hazing anymore
And a child shall lead them. All across the state of Georgia, freshmen are helping their high school teams advance in the state playoffs by shouldering more of a load than ever before. At North Gwinnett, Taylor Burns, the team’s second leading scorer, notched her 15th goal of the season to put her Lady Bulldogs team into the Final Four with a 1-0 win. Diamond DeShields and Kaela Davis teamed up to win the girls Class AAAAA basketball championship earlier this year and the Lassiter Trojans won its first undefeated region crown with Tyren Jones toting the ball at tailback. College coaches have had to start relying on true freshmen to contribute immediately and that has seemed to trickle down to the high school level as well in Georgia. Are the expectations too much too soon for some kids? Are coaches worried that inexperience might do in a young player and thus his/her team in the playoffs. Most coaches say that age is just a number.
“I really don’t look at grade but rather ability,” says Roberta Manheim, who has used many freshmen in big spots on her way to winning 133 straight matches and seven straight titles with the Walton Raiders girls tennis team. “Everyone on the team knows she is a part of something special. They are [on the team] because they have the ability to be part of the team and need to be ready to play.” Manheim rotated in two freshmen on this season’s team but in years past as many as four were playing in the starting lineup. Manheim uses the doubles teams as a learning ground to get the freshmen ready to play and will usually defer to an upperclassman if the freshman and senior are pretty equal in ability, but Manheim admits that most of her freshmen aren’t inexperienced. “My girls are experienced tournament players and have a mental toughness that is unequaled.”
Drew Prentice, the Collins Hill Boys soccer coach needed some of his freshmen to provide depth this season, especially when the team was rocked early on by injuries. “Although we did lose some very key players in the first game of the year, we had players step up and fill those roles.” Prentice has an incredible senior class this season but realizes the opportunity that his freshmen are getting. “On the field the underclassmen probably learn more from just competing with the seniors than they would ever learn from any drill or activity.” The competing that freshman goalkeeper Jackson Taylor endured no doubt helped him in the state championship game when he stopped two PKs to help the Eagles clinch the Class AAAAA title. On the field training isn’t a luxury anymore with freshmen, it is a necessity for success in the current season as well as the future.
Former Olympian Debbie Miller-Palmore watched the Norcross duo during the season and in the state playoffs and noted that what DeShields was doing reminded her of former Collins Hill standout Maya Moore. Miller-Palmore, who served as color commentator for Georgia Public Broadcasting, marveled several times during the season at how athletic and poised DeShields was, remarkable for being so young. Davis was also impressive in having a point guard’s ball-handling ability in a 6’7 frame. Tennessee’s Pat Summitt was impressed by both that she stopped by a Norcross game earlier this season to watch both, despite the fact that the earliest they could suit up for the Lady Vols would be Fall of 2013.
But how do the freshmen feel, not just playing with older and more experienced players but contributing in big ways? Does the freshman feel guilty for getting on the field so early? Starstruck? Nervous? Gracie White made Grady’s girls varsity soccer team as a freshman and got over her nerves quickly. “Whoever was the best in practice and tried the hardest got to play, regardless of age.” She noted that while the coaches were excited to have freshmen on the team, some of the older players were a bit hesitant at first. “Once they saw what we could do, everything was OK. Once you play [as a freshman] then you create a bond with the other players.”
The bottom line is that what your grandparents have said for years is true: age is just a number. Clubs teams, year-round traveling squads and little league have all given freshmen a leg up on freshmen from ten or twenty years ago, when a season or two on the JV was the norm. In the state of Georgia a child shall indeed lead them, sometimes all the way to a state championship.
“I really don’t look at grade but rather ability,” says Roberta Manheim, who has used many freshmen in big spots on her way to winning 133 straight matches and seven straight titles with the Walton Raiders girls tennis team. “Everyone on the team knows she is a part of something special. They are [on the team] because they have the ability to be part of the team and need to be ready to play.” Manheim rotated in two freshmen on this season’s team but in years past as many as four were playing in the starting lineup. Manheim uses the doubles teams as a learning ground to get the freshmen ready to play and will usually defer to an upperclassman if the freshman and senior are pretty equal in ability, but Manheim admits that most of her freshmen aren’t inexperienced. “My girls are experienced tournament players and have a mental toughness that is unequaled.”
Drew Prentice, the Collins Hill Boys soccer coach needed some of his freshmen to provide depth this season, especially when the team was rocked early on by injuries. “Although we did lose some very key players in the first game of the year, we had players step up and fill those roles.” Prentice has an incredible senior class this season but realizes the opportunity that his freshmen are getting. “On the field the underclassmen probably learn more from just competing with the seniors than they would ever learn from any drill or activity.” The competing that freshman goalkeeper Jackson Taylor endured no doubt helped him in the state championship game when he stopped two PKs to help the Eagles clinch the Class AAAAA title. On the field training isn’t a luxury anymore with freshmen, it is a necessity for success in the current season as well as the future.
Former Olympian Debbie Miller-Palmore watched the Norcross duo during the season and in the state playoffs and noted that what DeShields was doing reminded her of former Collins Hill standout Maya Moore. Miller-Palmore, who served as color commentator for Georgia Public Broadcasting, marveled several times during the season at how athletic and poised DeShields was, remarkable for being so young. Davis was also impressive in having a point guard’s ball-handling ability in a 6’7 frame. Tennessee’s Pat Summitt was impressed by both that she stopped by a Norcross game earlier this season to watch both, despite the fact that the earliest they could suit up for the Lady Vols would be Fall of 2013.
But how do the freshmen feel, not just playing with older and more experienced players but contributing in big ways? Does the freshman feel guilty for getting on the field so early? Starstruck? Nervous? Gracie White made Grady’s girls varsity soccer team as a freshman and got over her nerves quickly. “Whoever was the best in practice and tried the hardest got to play, regardless of age.” She noted that while the coaches were excited to have freshmen on the team, some of the older players were a bit hesitant at first. “Once they saw what we could do, everything was OK. Once you play [as a freshman] then you create a bond with the other players.”
The bottom line is that what your grandparents have said for years is true: age is just a number. Clubs teams, year-round traveling squads and little league have all given freshmen a leg up on freshmen from ten or twenty years ago, when a season or two on the JV was the norm. In the state of Georgia a child shall indeed lead them, sometimes all the way to a state championship.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Collins Hill Eagles take the Class AAAAA boys soccer title
The Collins Hill Eagles captured the Class AAAAA boys soccer title last night, knocking off No. 1 Northview 1-0 thanks to two big saves by a freshman goalie during PKs to win the school's second straight championship. The Eagles netted four shots in the PK session to Northview's two, following a scoreless regulation and OT period. Jackson Taylor blocked two Titans shots to his right, giving Coach Drew Prentice's squad its second straight title in its third straight championship game appearance. "I think all the adversity we faced this season has made a stronger, more tightly knit group," the first-year coach said of his team. Earlier this season, the Eagles lost its back-up and starting goalkeepers to injuries as well as several other key players, but the team weathered though it, with stellar depth helping Prentice's team ultimately come though with the title."Fortunately we [were] fairly deep this year. Although we did lose some very key players in the first game of the year, we had players step up and fill those roles."
In the championship game, Collins Hill was able to avenge an earlier season loss to Northview, which cost the Eagles the national No. 1 ranking as well as the Region 7-AAAAA title. Northview saw its 12-game winning streak snapped with PKs, but the game was nearly won by Collins Hill in regulation. Josh Fancher hit Zak Wallingford with a pass early in the second half that Wallingford deposited in the net, but Wallingford was called offsides, negating the goal. Northview was unable to put a shot on goal in regulation and OT while Collins Hill got six on goal but none past the Titans goalkeeper. During the PKs, Peter Kurowski, Ricky Ortega, Aldo Lara and Dominic Bonilla all converted their shots to give Collins Hill the win and the title as Taylor made the two saves.
Prentice raved about his seniors, remarking that their leadership helped put this team in a position to win the title. "Every senior at some point has stepped up and been a leader when we needed them to. They are so selfless." Prentice knew this season class was special and credits them for helping teach the younger players learn the ropes. "A senior class like this doesn't come around very often. On the field the underclassmen probably learn more from just competing with the seniors than they would from any drill."
With that, the seniors will leave with three straight finals appearances and two straight titles. Prentice knows that motivation won't be a problem as the team aims for yet another crown next season. "The boys have worked hard their whole lives improving in the game. They are winners and winners never take days off." With Jackson Taylor just a freshman, and Bonilla, Fancher and Wallingford just juniors, perhaps the building blocks are in place for a three-peat.
In the championship game, Collins Hill was able to avenge an earlier season loss to Northview, which cost the Eagles the national No. 1 ranking as well as the Region 7-AAAAA title. Northview saw its 12-game winning streak snapped with PKs, but the game was nearly won by Collins Hill in regulation. Josh Fancher hit Zak Wallingford with a pass early in the second half that Wallingford deposited in the net, but Wallingford was called offsides, negating the goal. Northview was unable to put a shot on goal in regulation and OT while Collins Hill got six on goal but none past the Titans goalkeeper. During the PKs, Peter Kurowski, Ricky Ortega, Aldo Lara and Dominic Bonilla all converted their shots to give Collins Hill the win and the title as Taylor made the two saves.
Prentice raved about his seniors, remarking that their leadership helped put this team in a position to win the title. "Every senior at some point has stepped up and been a leader when we needed them to. They are so selfless." Prentice knew this season class was special and credits them for helping teach the younger players learn the ropes. "A senior class like this doesn't come around very often. On the field the underclassmen probably learn more from just competing with the seniors than they would from any drill."
With that, the seniors will leave with three straight finals appearances and two straight titles. Prentice knows that motivation won't be a problem as the team aims for yet another crown next season. "The boys have worked hard their whole lives improving in the game. They are winners and winners never take days off." With Jackson Taylor just a freshman, and Bonilla, Fancher and Wallingford just juniors, perhaps the building blocks are in place for a three-peat.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Paul and Fletcher disagree on Frank Wren
Jeff Schultz wrote a blog about Frank Wren saying that the Mark Teixeira trade didn't exactly set the team back. Wren made some comments about how how the Braves didn't really need the six prospects the team gave up. Paul Mac disagrees with Wren, while I actually agree with Wren after pondering over it a bit more. Here was our exchange....
Paul: I want to like the guy. I really do, but he is one arrogant SOB for not having accomplished much in his tenure.
The Teixeria trade “didn’t affect the team at all”? Really? So those 5 players couldn’t have been traded to fix some of the other holes on the team?
These guys never admit fault ever and it drives me freaking crazy. Just admit that at the time they thought they were a player away and it turns out they weren’t so the subsequent years have been spent trying to rebuild. Then people can see there is a pattern and believe you know what you are talking about a little bit. Failing to admit organizational faults is ridiculous in this case, if they didn’t make some mistakes why haven’t they really competed the last 5 years?
Chemistry is all fine and good. It makes it more fun to endure 9 game losing streaks and 25 1 run losses. It’s a heck of a lot more fun to have a guy out in left hitting 44 dongs rather than going through a rotation of 4th and 5th OF’s.
SBF's Response: Wow. you OK there Paul?
can you blame frank wren? was he going to throw his boss under the bus? JS made that trade. Wren couldn't second guess it now. You are asking for too much.
Yes, hindsight is 20/20 but Salty has never become what we thought he'd be. He'd have had to move to first if he stayed in the ATL. Andrus would have allowed Yunel to be traded to San Diego for Peavy, but it probably would have also required Hanson or Feliz. if hanson is traded then we get Peavy (who still isn't healthy and Feliz is in Hanson's spot....maybe)
I kind of agree with Wren on this one now that I look at the trade. Andrus is the only one I'd rather have and he isn't the hitter escobar is. Fielder, yes, but Yunel's arm appears stronger.
Beau Jones and Matt Harrison, hello, my name is Jo-Jo Reyes and/or Charlie Morton.
They were hoping that tex would resign and he didn't and thus required a trade. beat wren up on not unloading tex sooner for a bigger prize from the angels.
Paul's final word: There are ways to say it. I’m fine. You don’t have to say that trade didn’t effect us on the field at all. You say… at the time, we thought we were one player away from a run at the world series so it was worth a try to give up the bulk of our MLB ready talent. Not…. That didn’t effect us at all. My statement covers the former boss and explains why you were willing to give up so many prospects for a rental.
Forget Jake Peavey. They are working on how many years now without a real starting left fielder? Since Andruw Jones left… no really worthy center fielder at the plate. No real solution at leadoff. No replacement at 3rd. No answer at 1st other than maybe Freeman. 4 of 8 field positions that are essentially vacant long term. Andrus could play 3rd or Short. I’m not beating Wren up for the moves. I’m beating Wren up for the arrogant way he communicates. He would do himself a service by taking some PR classes. They lost a huge part of their lineup in Tex. That trade and his subsequent rental affected this club quite a bit whether those players were going to start at all.
The entire organization from Mcguirk on down other than JS does an incredibly poor job in the PR department because they don’t explain themselves and they treat the listener as if they are stupid.
Paul: I want to like the guy. I really do, but he is one arrogant SOB for not having accomplished much in his tenure.
The Teixeria trade “didn’t affect the team at all”? Really? So those 5 players couldn’t have been traded to fix some of the other holes on the team?
These guys never admit fault ever and it drives me freaking crazy. Just admit that at the time they thought they were a player away and it turns out they weren’t so the subsequent years have been spent trying to rebuild. Then people can see there is a pattern and believe you know what you are talking about a little bit. Failing to admit organizational faults is ridiculous in this case, if they didn’t make some mistakes why haven’t they really competed the last 5 years?
Chemistry is all fine and good. It makes it more fun to endure 9 game losing streaks and 25 1 run losses. It’s a heck of a lot more fun to have a guy out in left hitting 44 dongs rather than going through a rotation of 4th and 5th OF’s.
SBF's Response: Wow. you OK there Paul?
can you blame frank wren? was he going to throw his boss under the bus? JS made that trade. Wren couldn't second guess it now. You are asking for too much.
Yes, hindsight is 20/20 but Salty has never become what we thought he'd be. He'd have had to move to first if he stayed in the ATL. Andrus would have allowed Yunel to be traded to San Diego for Peavy, but it probably would have also required Hanson or Feliz. if hanson is traded then we get Peavy (who still isn't healthy and Feliz is in Hanson's spot....maybe)
I kind of agree with Wren on this one now that I look at the trade. Andrus is the only one I'd rather have and he isn't the hitter escobar is. Fielder, yes, but Yunel's arm appears stronger.
Beau Jones and Matt Harrison, hello, my name is Jo-Jo Reyes and/or Charlie Morton.
They were hoping that tex would resign and he didn't and thus required a trade. beat wren up on not unloading tex sooner for a bigger prize from the angels.
Paul's final word: There are ways to say it. I’m fine. You don’t have to say that trade didn’t effect us on the field at all. You say… at the time, we thought we were one player away from a run at the world series so it was worth a try to give up the bulk of our MLB ready talent. Not…. That didn’t effect us at all. My statement covers the former boss and explains why you were willing to give up so many prospects for a rental.
Forget Jake Peavey. They are working on how many years now without a real starting left fielder? Since Andruw Jones left… no really worthy center fielder at the plate. No real solution at leadoff. No replacement at 3rd. No answer at 1st other than maybe Freeman. 4 of 8 field positions that are essentially vacant long term. Andrus could play 3rd or Short. I’m not beating Wren up for the moves. I’m beating Wren up for the arrogant way he communicates. He would do himself a service by taking some PR classes. They lost a huge part of their lineup in Tex. That trade and his subsequent rental affected this club quite a bit whether those players were going to start at all.
The entire organization from Mcguirk on down other than JS does an incredibly poor job in the PR department because they don’t explain themselves and they treat the listener as if they are stupid.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Seven, I'm in Heaven
In what is becoming routine, the Walton Lady Raiders tennis team won yet another state tennis title, its seventh straight and its 133rd straight match. This year though was not quite the cakewalk waltz straight to the title as years past have been. After not dropping a single match-point last year, the Lady Raiders ran into a bit of trouble against quarterfinal opponent (and state-ranked No. 2) Peachtree Ridge and in the finals against Centennial. The Lions of Peachtree Ridge took an early lead against Walton before the Lady Raiders steadied the ship and won 3-1. In the finals, Centennial pushed Walton to the limit before Coach Roberta Manheim’s squad walked away with a 3-2 match win. “This year was a little bit different for us since [we] had ten returning juniors. With all of them so close in rankings, they were the ‘bread and butter’ of the lineup this year.” Manheim called this a unique season in that the roster was senior-less, but that didn’t deter the girls. “I really don’t look at grade but rather ability,” says Manheim as she shrugged off her lack of seniors. “Everyone on the team knows she is a part of something special.”
The players who make up the Walton team all come in as experienced tournament players with a mental toughness that Manheim describes as “unequaled.” “They are [on the team] because they have the ability to be part of the team and need to be ready to play.” Manheim stresses team, team, team and it shows. Whatever players are not on the court playing are on the sidelines cheering, and Manheim believes that everyone plays an important part in every victory. “They care about each other and don’t want to let their team members down.”
Against Peachtree Ridge when the Lions grabbed an early point, Walton didn’t panic. “Peachtree Ridge was the challenge we knew it would be; however, the girls believed in themselves and in each other. After Maxie Weinberg fell in No. 2 singles, Walton recovered to take the No. 1 doubles point as well as the No. 3 singles point thanks to Stephanie Falcon. Emily Zabor won a three-set thriller at No. 1 singles 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to ice the match for the Raiders. The girls never panicked and breezed through the semi-finals. In the finals, the girls once again faced adversity but once again the mental toughness of Walton prevailed. “They have three years invested in this streak,” said Manheim, “and no one wants to be the one to see it end.”
Manheim constantly stresses to focus on the now. “You can’t look back and you can’t worry about what’s to come, you have to play what’s in front of you.” One point, one game at a time, one set and one match at a time. That theme has worked for Walton for seven straight titles and 133 matches, and with potentially ten juniors and two freshmen returning as ten seniors and two sophomores, this streak is sure to set a new state record and could end with an eighth title next season.
The players who make up the Walton team all come in as experienced tournament players with a mental toughness that Manheim describes as “unequaled.” “They are [on the team] because they have the ability to be part of the team and need to be ready to play.” Manheim stresses team, team, team and it shows. Whatever players are not on the court playing are on the sidelines cheering, and Manheim believes that everyone plays an important part in every victory. “They care about each other and don’t want to let their team members down.”
Against Peachtree Ridge when the Lions grabbed an early point, Walton didn’t panic. “Peachtree Ridge was the challenge we knew it would be; however, the girls believed in themselves and in each other. After Maxie Weinberg fell in No. 2 singles, Walton recovered to take the No. 1 doubles point as well as the No. 3 singles point thanks to Stephanie Falcon. Emily Zabor won a three-set thriller at No. 1 singles 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to ice the match for the Raiders. The girls never panicked and breezed through the semi-finals. In the finals, the girls once again faced adversity but once again the mental toughness of Walton prevailed. “They have three years invested in this streak,” said Manheim, “and no one wants to be the one to see it end.”
Manheim constantly stresses to focus on the now. “You can’t look back and you can’t worry about what’s to come, you have to play what’s in front of you.” One point, one game at a time, one set and one match at a time. That theme has worked for Walton for seven straight titles and 133 matches, and with potentially ten juniors and two freshmen returning as ten seniors and two sophomores, this streak is sure to set a new state record and could end with an eighth title next season.
What is sad is that apparently the state needs these
Have you heard the messages from the Georgia Meth campaign (or anti-Meth, i guess it should be)?
In one, a teenager cries because she got her friend hooked on meth and the friend then died and the friend's boyfriend blames the first girl.
In another, a girl feels her teeth breaking while chewing gum and her eyelashes fall out.
In another, a guy hits his pregger girlfriend (not wife, mind you. His girlfriend)
In another, a guy steals a motorcycle and crashes it and wishes he had died.
In another, a guy talks about how he doesn't remember a bunch of stuff.
In another, a Gainesville chick (Georgia, not Florida) talks about how she broke into her parents' and grandparents' houses to steal money to buy meth.
All of them end "sadly" with people wondering why they ever got into meth. They issue a warning that meth is bad news. Ummmm, did you really need to TRY METH TO FIGURE THAT OUT?
I would not put anything into my body that some white-trash hillbilly risked blowing his trailer up to make. Sorry, that isn't happening.
Why are people doing this stuff? So you can get high for 10 minutes before your teeth start falling out?! Cool, I don't have teeth or hair, but I was high for 7 whole minutes!
The sad thing is that people are doing this stuff. And someone feels the need to make these commercials. I should feel sorry for the people, but I usually end up laughing at them. How stupid can you be to do meth?
Make THIS your commercial!
In one, a teenager cries because she got her friend hooked on meth and the friend then died and the friend's boyfriend blames the first girl.
In another, a girl feels her teeth breaking while chewing gum and her eyelashes fall out.
In another, a guy hits his pregger girlfriend (not wife, mind you. His girlfriend)
In another, a guy steals a motorcycle and crashes it and wishes he had died.
In another, a guy talks about how he doesn't remember a bunch of stuff.
In another, a Gainesville chick (Georgia, not Florida) talks about how she broke into her parents' and grandparents' houses to steal money to buy meth.
All of them end "sadly" with people wondering why they ever got into meth. They issue a warning that meth is bad news. Ummmm, did you really need to TRY METH TO FIGURE THAT OUT?
I would not put anything into my body that some white-trash hillbilly risked blowing his trailer up to make. Sorry, that isn't happening.
Why are people doing this stuff? So you can get high for 10 minutes before your teeth start falling out?! Cool, I don't have teeth or hair, but I was high for 7 whole minutes!
The sad thing is that people are doing this stuff. And someone feels the need to make these commercials. I should feel sorry for the people, but I usually end up laughing at them. How stupid can you be to do meth?
Make THIS your commercial!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Big B's UGA Big board for the Class of 2011
Big B Brian Jones gave us his Big Board of uncommitted prospects that UGA could very well be targeting. He debuted this last night on Score Atlanta's Official Visit. For more, tune in next Monday from 7-9pm! Enjoy!
10) James Wilder Jr.: 6-2, 219-pound DE/RB out of Tampa. Has offers from everyone. Probably top player in the country. Has a top five of Florida, Bama, Georgia, FSU and Miami.
9) Lonnie Gosha: 6-2, 270-pound DT out of Union County, Florida. Formerly committed to FSU, but opened things back up and calls Georgia, FSU, LSU and Bama his favorites. Great size, speed and agility. A dominant pass rusher and a very physical athlete. Can play DE or grow into a DT.
8) Charone Peake: 6-3, 195-pound WR out of South Carolina. Interested in Clemson, Georgia and Florida. Good friends with LeMay. Explosive with the ball or a player his size. Tremendous speed. Big target with great hands, and good adjusting to the ball. Will commit before senior season.
7) Quan Bray: 5-11, 178-pound athlete out of Callaway. Offers from Bama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Tech, Tennessee, Stanford, N.C. State, and UNC among others. Bama, Clemson, Georgia battle. Incredible athlete that can play receiver, db or rb.
6) Xzavier Dickson: 6-3, 238-pound DE out of Griffin. Top five of Bama, Tech, Georgia, Auburn and Florida. Tough to read. Great speed and agility on the defensive line, but not strong or great at getting off blocks. Could be a dominant TE.
5) Watts Dantzler: 6-7, 315-pount OT. Has named Bama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Vandy as his top five. I like Georgia here. Has it all on the field.
4) Jay Rome: 6-6, 240-pound TE out of Valdosta. He likes Georgia, Florida, Clemson, Tennessee and Alabama. Physical, impressive blocker and good athlete with great size, but not as explosive as you would expect.
3) Antonio Richardson: 6-6, 310-pound OT out of Tennessee. Has offers from everyone in the south. Very early in his recruitment, but Georgia is clearly in the running. Plays a lot of guard. Quick off the line, physically punishing and great against the run. Great balance and aggression.
2) Nick Marshall: 6-2, 185-pound QB out of Wilcox County. Offers from Arkansas, FSU, Tech, Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Has a top three of Georgia, Georgia Tech and FSU. Quick release, with great accuracy and good at passing outside of the pocket. Decent arm strength. Would like to see him become a more impressive runner. Loves Bball and says FSU is recruiting him harder for basketball than Georgia.
1) Ray Drew: 6-5, 243-pound DE out of Thomas County Central. Tremendous size, athleticism and explosion, but just dominant against the pass and the run. FSU, Tech, Georgia, USC, Florida, Auburn.
Interestingly enough, Big B left off James Vaughters of Tucker as well as Isaiah Crowell, the uber-talented tailback from Carver. He also failed to include CJ Uzomah, North Gwinnett's QB. We talked to CJ last night on The Official Visit and here is a bit of what he said...
The North Gwinnett football team is gearing up for a huge season-opening tilt against Crenshaw (CA) and quarterback CJ Uzomah says that the team is looking forward to making a statement. "We're working on team chemistry. We got down on ourselves last year against Camden and started pointing fingers. We're looking to improve our attitude." Uzomah said that he himself is working on being consistent as well as his passing, though the Bulldogs may have a twist on offense for their opponents. "I've worked on playing some receiver this spring. We're trying to mix that in to give defenses fits this season." As far as the season opening game, Uzomah says that the high profile matchup will be a statement game. "[The game] helps us as we can show everybody across the southeast that we're going all the way."
10) James Wilder Jr.: 6-2, 219-pound DE/RB out of Tampa. Has offers from everyone. Probably top player in the country. Has a top five of Florida, Bama, Georgia, FSU and Miami.
9) Lonnie Gosha: 6-2, 270-pound DT out of Union County, Florida. Formerly committed to FSU, but opened things back up and calls Georgia, FSU, LSU and Bama his favorites. Great size, speed and agility. A dominant pass rusher and a very physical athlete. Can play DE or grow into a DT.
8) Charone Peake: 6-3, 195-pound WR out of South Carolina. Interested in Clemson, Georgia and Florida. Good friends with LeMay. Explosive with the ball or a player his size. Tremendous speed. Big target with great hands, and good adjusting to the ball. Will commit before senior season.
7) Quan Bray: 5-11, 178-pound athlete out of Callaway. Offers from Bama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Tech, Tennessee, Stanford, N.C. State, and UNC among others. Bama, Clemson, Georgia battle. Incredible athlete that can play receiver, db or rb.
6) Xzavier Dickson: 6-3, 238-pound DE out of Griffin. Top five of Bama, Tech, Georgia, Auburn and Florida. Tough to read. Great speed and agility on the defensive line, but not strong or great at getting off blocks. Could be a dominant TE.
5) Watts Dantzler: 6-7, 315-pount OT. Has named Bama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Vandy as his top five. I like Georgia here. Has it all on the field.
4) Jay Rome: 6-6, 240-pound TE out of Valdosta. He likes Georgia, Florida, Clemson, Tennessee and Alabama. Physical, impressive blocker and good athlete with great size, but not as explosive as you would expect.
3) Antonio Richardson: 6-6, 310-pound OT out of Tennessee. Has offers from everyone in the south. Very early in his recruitment, but Georgia is clearly in the running. Plays a lot of guard. Quick off the line, physically punishing and great against the run. Great balance and aggression.
2) Nick Marshall: 6-2, 185-pound QB out of Wilcox County. Offers from Arkansas, FSU, Tech, Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Has a top three of Georgia, Georgia Tech and FSU. Quick release, with great accuracy and good at passing outside of the pocket. Decent arm strength. Would like to see him become a more impressive runner. Loves Bball and says FSU is recruiting him harder for basketball than Georgia.
1) Ray Drew: 6-5, 243-pound DE out of Thomas County Central. Tremendous size, athleticism and explosion, but just dominant against the pass and the run. FSU, Tech, Georgia, USC, Florida, Auburn.
Interestingly enough, Big B left off James Vaughters of Tucker as well as Isaiah Crowell, the uber-talented tailback from Carver. He also failed to include CJ Uzomah, North Gwinnett's QB. We talked to CJ last night on The Official Visit and here is a bit of what he said...
The North Gwinnett football team is gearing up for a huge season-opening tilt against Crenshaw (CA) and quarterback CJ Uzomah says that the team is looking forward to making a statement. "We're working on team chemistry. We got down on ourselves last year against Camden and started pointing fingers. We're looking to improve our attitude." Uzomah said that he himself is working on being consistent as well as his passing, though the Bulldogs may have a twist on offense for their opponents. "I've worked on playing some receiver this spring. We're trying to mix that in to give defenses fits this season." As far as the season opening game, Uzomah says that the high profile matchup will be a statement game. "[The game] helps us as we can show everybody across the southeast that we're going all the way."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Killer Gs...Glavine and Glaus
As of today, no one on the Atlanta Braves roster will ever wear No.47 ever again. The announced today that Tom Glavine will have his number retired this August 6 after Glavine officially hung up the glove and cleats earlier this year to take a position with the organization. Glavine won two Cy Young awards with the Braves (1991, 98), along with 244 games for Atlanta and 305 games overall. Glavine’s No. 47 will be the seventh number retired with Atlanta and comes one year after Greg Maddux had his number retired at a Braves game last summer. Glavine was a ten-time all-star and pitched 17 years for the Atlanta Braves with five years with the New York Mets thrown in for good measure. The lefthander was the starter in the World Series-clinching game six against Cleveland in 1995 when the Braves won the team’s lone title during the franchise’s incredible run of division titles. Glavine also finished with 20+ wins five times with Atlanta and is 21st all-time on the most-wins list.
And not to go all Mark Bradley on you here, but it might be time to lay off Troy Glaus. Last night the guy laid into a ball and crushed it to dead centerfield to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead in a game it would go on to win 8-2. While Glaus hasn’t provided the pop thus far that many thought he could, (I thought he’d be good for 25-27 home runs) that isn’t to say he isn’t going to finish with 20+ longballs. And he has played in all 32 games (as of Monday), which is tied with Martin Prado for the most on the team. He has the third highest batting average among regular starters and he has more hits than everybody’s favorite rookie Jason Heyward, aka the MVP of the season thus far. He is second on the team in home runs as well as RBI and he has really been clicking recently when it comes to RBIs, with ten already this month in just nine games. In fact, for the month of May, Glaus is hitting .400 with a .450 OBP plus a slugging percentage of .514. Glaus is slowly becoming the player Braves should have hoped he would be, and remember, he is coming cheap on a one-year deal because we don’t want anything blocking Freddie Freeman for next season. For those who say Adam LaRoche over Glaus, the stats are identical and Glaus is having the better May by a longshot. Oh, and Glaus is a power righty in the lineup to break up the Heyward/McCann lefty-train. Options. And Glaus is only getting healthier…
And not to go all Mark Bradley on you here, but it might be time to lay off Troy Glaus. Last night the guy laid into a ball and crushed it to dead centerfield to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead in a game it would go on to win 8-2. While Glaus hasn’t provided the pop thus far that many thought he could, (I thought he’d be good for 25-27 home runs) that isn’t to say he isn’t going to finish with 20+ longballs. And he has played in all 32 games (as of Monday), which is tied with Martin Prado for the most on the team. He has the third highest batting average among regular starters and he has more hits than everybody’s favorite rookie Jason Heyward, aka the MVP of the season thus far. He is second on the team in home runs as well as RBI and he has really been clicking recently when it comes to RBIs, with ten already this month in just nine games. In fact, for the month of May, Glaus is hitting .400 with a .450 OBP plus a slugging percentage of .514. Glaus is slowly becoming the player Braves should have hoped he would be, and remember, he is coming cheap on a one-year deal because we don’t want anything blocking Freddie Freeman for next season. For those who say Adam LaRoche over Glaus, the stats are identical and Glaus is having the better May by a longshot. Oh, and Glaus is a power righty in the lineup to break up the Heyward/McCann lefty-train. Options. And Glaus is only getting healthier…
Monday, May 10, 2010
Last week's THEFLETCH
Did you miss it on Friday? You DID? Why didn't you just go to QuikTrip and grab a copy of Score Atlanta? Well, here it is......enjoy!
The Atlanta Hawks finally were able to close out the Milwaukee Bucks last weekend and in Sunday’s ONLY Game Seven, surely the do-or-die game would get top billing on SportsCenter, correct? Well surely the do-or-die game would get top NBA billing on SportsCenter, correct? Well surely the do-or-die game would at least get mentioned by the NBA on ABC crew, correct? I mean Jon Berry lives in Atlanta, so he’ll HAVE to talk about the Hawks, right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. As I watched the Hawks dismantle the Bucks last Sunday, I was thinking that FINALLY Atlanta would get its due on SportsCenter that night with all of the talking heads discussing how Atlanta was able pull through, having been down three games to two in the first round series. I figured maybe they’d talk about how the Hawks are back in the second round after three straight seasons of a first round Game Seven. Nope. The Lakers/Jazz series-opener got all of the top billing with the better play-by-play crew on ABC. On ESPN, the Lakers led the show and then after about 6 minutes of highlights, followed by four player interviews, the Hawks were given two minutes (maybe) of highlights. When the SportsCenter hosts kicked it to ABC, they discussed the Lakers with nary a mention of the Hawks game. No Hawks love?
I would feel more slighted by this if I had not listened to 790 and 680 last Friday where people were openly calling for the Hawks to lose Game Six. Callers wanted the team to lose to end the season and potentially blow the squad up to start over. What? Don’t you remember all of those years before the 2007-08 season? We don’t want those again. Chris Bosh isn’t coming to Atlanta, where he spent one season at Georgia Tech. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rockets will make Bosh target No. 1. Do we think Dwyane Wade will come to Atlanta? Really? Amare isn’t coming here. Do we want to shell out for Boozer when Al Horford is already the undersized post player? No. This team has to stay as is (even if that means maxing out a guy that scored just eight points on 4-14 shooting), and hope that Josh Smith continues to get better.
The Atlanta Braves were “streaking” according to AJC after just two games against Houston. The Braves finished off a horrible road trip on a nine-game losing streak and last weekend took the first two games of the three game set with the Astros. When I opened up the AJC Sunday morning, the Braves had started a “winning streak.” Um, I guess I have a different view of what a “streak” is, in that I take my definition from the movie Major League. To paraphrase, “you win a game, then you win the next day and that is two in a row. If you win the day after that, you have a ‘streak!’” I always thought that it took three straight games to have a streak of either wins or losses. Maybe I am just old school (or WAY too into pop culture), but that is how I roll. And I wonder if Mark Bradley still feels that this team won’t win anything as currently constructed. Hey Mark, it is the first week of May. You want to calm it down a touch? Wait, I forgot. You are the guy that said an April hit was the same thing as Francisco Cabrera’s NLCS pennant-winning RBI. That’s right. You are a gun-jumper.
The Kennesaw State University women’s soccer team and the Atlanta Beat will be playing in the country’s first soccer stadium built specifically for women’s soccer. Kudos to the Marietta Daily-Journal for covering the ribbon-cutting. While Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia get most of the headlines from the AJC, Georgia State and Kennesaw State both have big-time programs as well that the city paper sometimes misses. Score Atlanta is all over the city, covering events from not just high school championships and the pro teams, but the Panthers and the Owls as well. If you miss the big story from the AJC’s website, check our website at www.scoreatl.com. We had the link to the Daily-Journal’s story before most of Atlanta went to work.
After 680 The Fan’s Buck & Kincade and 790 The Zone’s Pollack & Bell go off the air at 7 p.m. weekdays, barring a baseball or basketball game, both stations typically go to network radio, either ESPN for 680 or Sporting News for 790. Usually I prefer the self-righteous Brian Kenney show on ESPN Radio, but last week on The Monty Show, the silly, scatterbrained host was quite funny that I laughed out loud in my car, something that is pretty hard to do for sports talk radio. The Monty Show was discussing the potential Tiger Woods divorce settlement for $600M and the host was going on and on about how Elin had done her part to “earn” that money. He wondered how many times Elin had scrubbed the marble floors in the Isleworth Estate with pledge or taken the cars in for an oil change. I’m not sticking up for Tiger here, but HE earned that money and just because he screwed around on the wife, that doesn’t mean she should win the divorce lottery. Did she help him earn the money? No. Did she keep the house while he earned that money? No. Did she take care of the kids while he earned the money? Interestingly enough, despite her background as a nanny, she had her own nannies to care for the children. I would have to agree with The Monty Show in regards to Elin not deserving that money. Do I think Elin should get something? Yes, but not $600M.
Hey ESPN, just a heads up: we don’t care about Lorena Ochoa’s retirement. If you didn’t have “W Golf” on the ticker beside her name, we wouldn’t even know who she is. Stop cramming her down our throats. And NO, it ISN’T like if Tiger Woods had decided to retire after the Tiger-Slam. We KNEW WHO HE WAS back then. Ochoa could have won 82 straight tournaments and I STILL don’t think I’d have a clue as to who she is. Just saying.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“And the Yankees play the…Orioles. I hope the Orioles lose 100 games this year!” That was Leo Mazzone sort of introducing Mitch Williams onto the Rude Awakening last week. Leo, we get it. Things didn’t end well with you in Baltimore, though I believe the organization still paid you an obscene amount of money after you left the Camden Yards locker room. As listeners we can tell when some people “don’t like” programs or teams, but it is in jest. You however don’t hide your bitterness well and it is awkward to listen to. We also remember you left for the guaranteed contract (and to work with your friend), so please don’t ever be upset at an athlete that wants to get his because you went and got yours. Lost a golden goose situation, but you got yours, right?
The Atlanta Hawks finally were able to close out the Milwaukee Bucks last weekend and in Sunday’s ONLY Game Seven, surely the do-or-die game would get top billing on SportsCenter, correct? Well surely the do-or-die game would get top NBA billing on SportsCenter, correct? Well surely the do-or-die game would at least get mentioned by the NBA on ABC crew, correct? I mean Jon Berry lives in Atlanta, so he’ll HAVE to talk about the Hawks, right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. As I watched the Hawks dismantle the Bucks last Sunday, I was thinking that FINALLY Atlanta would get its due on SportsCenter that night with all of the talking heads discussing how Atlanta was able pull through, having been down three games to two in the first round series. I figured maybe they’d talk about how the Hawks are back in the second round after three straight seasons of a first round Game Seven. Nope. The Lakers/Jazz series-opener got all of the top billing with the better play-by-play crew on ABC. On ESPN, the Lakers led the show and then after about 6 minutes of highlights, followed by four player interviews, the Hawks were given two minutes (maybe) of highlights. When the SportsCenter hosts kicked it to ABC, they discussed the Lakers with nary a mention of the Hawks game. No Hawks love?
I would feel more slighted by this if I had not listened to 790 and 680 last Friday where people were openly calling for the Hawks to lose Game Six. Callers wanted the team to lose to end the season and potentially blow the squad up to start over. What? Don’t you remember all of those years before the 2007-08 season? We don’t want those again. Chris Bosh isn’t coming to Atlanta, where he spent one season at Georgia Tech. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rockets will make Bosh target No. 1. Do we think Dwyane Wade will come to Atlanta? Really? Amare isn’t coming here. Do we want to shell out for Boozer when Al Horford is already the undersized post player? No. This team has to stay as is (even if that means maxing out a guy that scored just eight points on 4-14 shooting), and hope that Josh Smith continues to get better.
The Atlanta Braves were “streaking” according to AJC after just two games against Houston. The Braves finished off a horrible road trip on a nine-game losing streak and last weekend took the first two games of the three game set with the Astros. When I opened up the AJC Sunday morning, the Braves had started a “winning streak.” Um, I guess I have a different view of what a “streak” is, in that I take my definition from the movie Major League. To paraphrase, “you win a game, then you win the next day and that is two in a row. If you win the day after that, you have a ‘streak!’” I always thought that it took three straight games to have a streak of either wins or losses. Maybe I am just old school (or WAY too into pop culture), but that is how I roll. And I wonder if Mark Bradley still feels that this team won’t win anything as currently constructed. Hey Mark, it is the first week of May. You want to calm it down a touch? Wait, I forgot. You are the guy that said an April hit was the same thing as Francisco Cabrera’s NLCS pennant-winning RBI. That’s right. You are a gun-jumper.
The Kennesaw State University women’s soccer team and the Atlanta Beat will be playing in the country’s first soccer stadium built specifically for women’s soccer. Kudos to the Marietta Daily-Journal for covering the ribbon-cutting. While Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia get most of the headlines from the AJC, Georgia State and Kennesaw State both have big-time programs as well that the city paper sometimes misses. Score Atlanta is all over the city, covering events from not just high school championships and the pro teams, but the Panthers and the Owls as well. If you miss the big story from the AJC’s website, check our website at www.scoreatl.com. We had the link to the Daily-Journal’s story before most of Atlanta went to work.
After 680 The Fan’s Buck & Kincade and 790 The Zone’s Pollack & Bell go off the air at 7 p.m. weekdays, barring a baseball or basketball game, both stations typically go to network radio, either ESPN for 680 or Sporting News for 790. Usually I prefer the self-righteous Brian Kenney show on ESPN Radio, but last week on The Monty Show, the silly, scatterbrained host was quite funny that I laughed out loud in my car, something that is pretty hard to do for sports talk radio. The Monty Show was discussing the potential Tiger Woods divorce settlement for $600M and the host was going on and on about how Elin had done her part to “earn” that money. He wondered how many times Elin had scrubbed the marble floors in the Isleworth Estate with pledge or taken the cars in for an oil change. I’m not sticking up for Tiger here, but HE earned that money and just because he screwed around on the wife, that doesn’t mean she should win the divorce lottery. Did she help him earn the money? No. Did she keep the house while he earned that money? No. Did she take care of the kids while he earned the money? Interestingly enough, despite her background as a nanny, she had her own nannies to care for the children. I would have to agree with The Monty Show in regards to Elin not deserving that money. Do I think Elin should get something? Yes, but not $600M.
Hey ESPN, just a heads up: we don’t care about Lorena Ochoa’s retirement. If you didn’t have “W Golf” on the ticker beside her name, we wouldn’t even know who she is. Stop cramming her down our throats. And NO, it ISN’T like if Tiger Woods had decided to retire after the Tiger-Slam. We KNEW WHO HE WAS back then. Ochoa could have won 82 straight tournaments and I STILL don’t think I’d have a clue as to who she is. Just saying.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT?
“And the Yankees play the…Orioles. I hope the Orioles lose 100 games this year!” That was Leo Mazzone sort of introducing Mitch Williams onto the Rude Awakening last week. Leo, we get it. Things didn’t end well with you in Baltimore, though I believe the organization still paid you an obscene amount of money after you left the Camden Yards locker room. As listeners we can tell when some people “don’t like” programs or teams, but it is in jest. You however don’t hide your bitterness well and it is awkward to listen to. We also remember you left for the guaranteed contract (and to work with your friend), so please don’t ever be upset at an athlete that wants to get his because you went and got yours. Lost a golden goose situation, but you got yours, right?
Friday, May 7, 2010
new top name is troubling
I read a story on yahoo! about the new "top baby girl" name and it scares me a bit. The new top name is Isabella aka Bella and the yahoo! story is quoting some "name experts" (whatever they are) that Isabella may be popular because of the Twilight series.
I am scared because this means that a bunch of 14-year-olds are out there in America, having kids.
I mean, anyone over the age of 14 that is naming their kid after a tween movie character is pathetic, so it HAS to be 14-year-olds, right?
Honestly, people have decided to name their baby after Kristen Stewart's character? Why don't you just give them a wedgie yourself? Why don't you beat your kid up everyday yourself? Shove him into a locker yourself?
I liked the movie Jerry McGuire, but I am not naming my kid Jerry Proctor.
I liked the show Seinfeld, but I am not naming my kid Seinfeld Proctor.
I liked the movie What a Girl Wants, but I am not naming my kid Amanda Bynes Proctor
I liked the show The OC, but I am not naming my kid Atwood Proctor
I liked the movie The Dark Knight, but I am not naming my kid Joker Proctor.
Naming your kid after a character out of a movie? Why don't you just NOT have a kid and instead watch the movie again. Anyone naming their kid because of Twilight should be dragged behind a car on 85 during rushhour.
I am scared because this means that a bunch of 14-year-olds are out there in America, having kids.
I mean, anyone over the age of 14 that is naming their kid after a tween movie character is pathetic, so it HAS to be 14-year-olds, right?
Honestly, people have decided to name their baby after Kristen Stewart's character? Why don't you just give them a wedgie yourself? Why don't you beat your kid up everyday yourself? Shove him into a locker yourself?
I liked the movie Jerry McGuire, but I am not naming my kid Jerry Proctor.
I liked the show Seinfeld, but I am not naming my kid Seinfeld Proctor.
I liked the movie What a Girl Wants, but I am not naming my kid Amanda Bynes Proctor
I liked the show The OC, but I am not naming my kid Atwood Proctor
I liked the movie The Dark Knight, but I am not naming my kid Joker Proctor.
Naming your kid after a character out of a movie? Why don't you just NOT have a kid and instead watch the movie again. Anyone naming their kid because of Twilight should be dragged behind a car on 85 during rushhour.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Midweek Entertainment report 5/5/10
Lindsay Lohan is play a porn star, Miley and Christina getting dirrrty, Pirates #4 is gonna suck and when did American Idol get so cheap?
Ladies and Gentlmen, it's the Cinco De MAYO edition of the Midweek Entertainment report!
(Sombreros are being tossed in the air!)
An independent film producer alerted the press yesterday that Lindsay Lohan will play the lead character of Linda Lovelace in the soon-to-be-filmed movie Inferno. Lovelace was a porn star in the 1970s(?) that filmed Deep Throat, which many people believe to be the first mainstream porno. Lohan reportedly said that it was a good research role for her future career as a coked-out porn star. Seriously? Lohan thinks this is a good idea? REALLY? Who is her manager? Mischa Barton? Hey Lindsay, I know you've had some personal issues for the last 6 years, but let's start your comeback with you starring as a porn star in an indie flick! On a lighter note, Bill Pullman will star in the movie as Hef. Can't you just see Pullman looking exasperated and screaming, "Doesn't anybody have any boobies!?"
Have you caught Miley's new video yet? Well the Disney Channel certainly won't be airing it anytime soon. I guess she is trying to compete with Christina Aguilera's new video where Xina (remember when she tried to go by that for a while?) goes back to being dirrrty. Or maybe Miley was just shooting THIS video back for that Vanity Fair photo shoot. I get Christina doing a sexy video, but Miley? Hannah Montana? And the whole sexy Miley video thing is undone because they didn't fix her teeth. How can you be in a sexy video with those chompers?
Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is really going to suck now. Forget no Keira Knightley for a second, apparently the budget for the film was dropped by 1/3 and the shoot was moved from the Caribbean to Hawaii and London. WOW. Not that Hawaii isn't beautiful, but it isn't Pirates of Hawaii. Oh and the shooting days were dropped from 145 to just 90 days. I guess that means fewer takes. Well, it works for Eastwood. However, I am onboard with new director Rob Marshall over the director of the first three Gore Verbinski. Marshall did Nine and Chicago while Verbinski directed the video game that was No.2. (I never saw No.3 but people tell me it sucked.) Perhaps Marshall will SAVE the movie......no, Keira would have done that. Wait, is Taylor Townsend available?
Finally, the American Idol wannabes attempted Sinatra last night. (I am glad I didn't watch because I likely would have destroyed my TV for those untalented goobs attempting Frank. Now David Cook's season would have been fine, and last year was cool with the Rat Pack week). Let me ask this question though....when did AI get so cheap. While I do enjoy Harry Connick Jr., was Michael Buble really THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE? Come on guys. Shell out the extra cash for Michael Buble!
Happy Cinco De Mayo everybody (you know, that made up holiday that Americans invented so they wouldn't feel like lushes for wanting to drink Coronas and Dos XX on a random Wednesday. If you want to drink, JUST DRINK. You don't need a made-up holiday! Childish, just like Sex rehab. No, Tiger, you're just a shithead, not an addict.)
Ladies and Gentlmen, it's the Cinco De MAYO edition of the Midweek Entertainment report!
(Sombreros are being tossed in the air!)
An independent film producer alerted the press yesterday that Lindsay Lohan will play the lead character of Linda Lovelace in the soon-to-be-filmed movie Inferno. Lovelace was a porn star in the 1970s(?) that filmed Deep Throat, which many people believe to be the first mainstream porno. Lohan reportedly said that it was a good research role for her future career as a coked-out porn star. Seriously? Lohan thinks this is a good idea? REALLY? Who is her manager? Mischa Barton? Hey Lindsay, I know you've had some personal issues for the last 6 years, but let's start your comeback with you starring as a porn star in an indie flick! On a lighter note, Bill Pullman will star in the movie as Hef. Can't you just see Pullman looking exasperated and screaming, "Doesn't anybody have any boobies!?"
Have you caught Miley's new video yet? Well the Disney Channel certainly won't be airing it anytime soon. I guess she is trying to compete with Christina Aguilera's new video where Xina (remember when she tried to go by that for a while?) goes back to being dirrrty. Or maybe Miley was just shooting THIS video back for that Vanity Fair photo shoot. I get Christina doing a sexy video, but Miley? Hannah Montana? And the whole sexy Miley video thing is undone because they didn't fix her teeth. How can you be in a sexy video with those chompers?
Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is really going to suck now. Forget no Keira Knightley for a second, apparently the budget for the film was dropped by 1/3 and the shoot was moved from the Caribbean to Hawaii and London. WOW. Not that Hawaii isn't beautiful, but it isn't Pirates of Hawaii. Oh and the shooting days were dropped from 145 to just 90 days. I guess that means fewer takes. Well, it works for Eastwood. However, I am onboard with new director Rob Marshall over the director of the first three Gore Verbinski. Marshall did Nine and Chicago while Verbinski directed the video game that was No.2. (I never saw No.3 but people tell me it sucked.) Perhaps Marshall will SAVE the movie......no, Keira would have done that. Wait, is Taylor Townsend available?
Finally, the American Idol wannabes attempted Sinatra last night. (I am glad I didn't watch because I likely would have destroyed my TV for those untalented goobs attempting Frank. Now David Cook's season would have been fine, and last year was cool with the Rat Pack week). Let me ask this question though....when did AI get so cheap. While I do enjoy Harry Connick Jr., was Michael Buble really THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE? Come on guys. Shell out the extra cash for Michael Buble!
Happy Cinco De Mayo everybody (you know, that made up holiday that Americans invented so they wouldn't feel like lushes for wanting to drink Coronas and Dos XX on a random Wednesday. If you want to drink, JUST DRINK. You don't need a made-up holiday! Childish, just like Sex rehab. No, Tiger, you're just a shithead, not an addict.)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Big B's top DBs in the GAHS class of 2011
This list debuted last night on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit on 790 The Zone. Did you miss it? You DID? Why? We had Isaiah Crowell, the standout running back that EVERY COLLEGE in the country wants in their backfield, on where he revealed that Clemson may have the inside track and he is likely a package deal with teammate Gabe Wright. See what you missed? Anyways, here is Big B's big list.
10) Chris Milton: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Charlton County. Offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, UNC, Purdue and Illinois. Good speed, quickness and agility. Needs to gain a ton of weight to play safety, more of a corner at this point. Doesn’t have blinding speed. Plays a lot of qb now. But great upside I think.
9) Justin Coleman: 5-11, 175-pound cornerback out of Brunswick. Offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. Good height, speed and great hands. Plays a lot of safety in high school. Does have much man coverage experience.
8) Jared Boyd: 5-9, 165-pound corner out of Stephenson. Offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and UCF. Lacks height and size, but is a tremendous athlete. Tremendous speed. Great with the ball in his hands. Plays a lot of safety, but wont in college. Great punt and kick returner. Just put him on the field. Reminds me a little of Nickell Robey.
7) Tyler Hunter: 6-0, 190-pound safety out of Lowndes. Committed to FSU. Another good punt and kick returner. Needs to add weight, but good speed. Good all-around player, takes on blocks well. A little late reacting, but takes good angles.
6) Avery Walls: 5-11, 184-pound safety out of Union Grove. Offers from Auburn, Cal, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Very physical, big hitter, quick reaction time. Very impressive against the run. Great recognition skills. Love this kid.
5) Devin Bowman: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Ridgeland. Committed to UGA. Could play on both sides of the ball, but looks to be a corner. Good body control in air. Solid speed and quickness. Needs to gain weight and become more physical.
4) Brian Randolph: 6-0, 180-pound safety out of Kell. Had a tremendous sophomore season, but was hurt last year. Very physical, with good speed and reactionary skills. Offers from Georgia, Tech, Tennessee, VTech, Stanford.
3) Damian Swan: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Grady. Offers from Bama, Florida, UGA, UNC, N.C. State, USC…Good size, with tremendous speed and body control. Very strong too. Love him at both receiver and db, though he probably has more upside on d. Looks to have solid hands also.
2) Chris Sanders: 6-1, 185-pound athlete out of Tucker. Committed to Georgia. Great size and a willing hitter. Impressive in run support, but lacks explosive speed.
1) Corey Moore: 6-1, 195-pound safety out of Griffin. Committed to UGA. Smart player that knows how to play safety. Very good recognition skills to go along with great size. Very agile and quick for his size, with good enough speed. Great body control, and very good at reading the quarterback. A true safety. Will knock your head off. Great against the run and pass.
10) Chris Milton: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Charlton County. Offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, UNC, Purdue and Illinois. Good speed, quickness and agility. Needs to gain a ton of weight to play safety, more of a corner at this point. Doesn’t have blinding speed. Plays a lot of qb now. But great upside I think.
9) Justin Coleman: 5-11, 175-pound cornerback out of Brunswick. Offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. Good height, speed and great hands. Plays a lot of safety in high school. Does have much man coverage experience.
8) Jared Boyd: 5-9, 165-pound corner out of Stephenson. Offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and UCF. Lacks height and size, but is a tremendous athlete. Tremendous speed. Great with the ball in his hands. Plays a lot of safety, but wont in college. Great punt and kick returner. Just put him on the field. Reminds me a little of Nickell Robey.
7) Tyler Hunter: 6-0, 190-pound safety out of Lowndes. Committed to FSU. Another good punt and kick returner. Needs to add weight, but good speed. Good all-around player, takes on blocks well. A little late reacting, but takes good angles.
6) Avery Walls: 5-11, 184-pound safety out of Union Grove. Offers from Auburn, Cal, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Very physical, big hitter, quick reaction time. Very impressive against the run. Great recognition skills. Love this kid.
5) Devin Bowman: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Ridgeland. Committed to UGA. Could play on both sides of the ball, but looks to be a corner. Good body control in air. Solid speed and quickness. Needs to gain weight and become more physical.
4) Brian Randolph: 6-0, 180-pound safety out of Kell. Had a tremendous sophomore season, but was hurt last year. Very physical, with good speed and reactionary skills. Offers from Georgia, Tech, Tennessee, VTech, Stanford.
3) Damian Swan: 6-0, 175-pound athlete out of Grady. Offers from Bama, Florida, UGA, UNC, N.C. State, USC…Good size, with tremendous speed and body control. Very strong too. Love him at both receiver and db, though he probably has more upside on d. Looks to have solid hands also.
2) Chris Sanders: 6-1, 185-pound athlete out of Tucker. Committed to Georgia. Great size and a willing hitter. Impressive in run support, but lacks explosive speed.
1) Corey Moore: 6-1, 195-pound safety out of Griffin. Committed to UGA. Smart player that knows how to play safety. Very good recognition skills to go along with great size. Very agile and quick for his size, with good enough speed. Great body control, and very good at reading the quarterback. A true safety. Will knock your head off. Great against the run and pass.
Monday, May 3, 2010
So Logan Gray wants to go to K-State?
Peace out Homey. You want to go and MAYBE play in the Big 12 for Bill Snyder, who might die on the sidelines (he is 94 afterall)? Be my guest. Or you could stay at Georgia and play a little wide receiver and get worked into a wilddawg package.
And what if Aaron Murray craps his pants against SoCar? You're just assuming you won't be called upon? what if Murray breaks his leg again or has the tendonitis flare up again?
man, logan gray is friggin' stoopid.
oh, "I was the Missouri Gatorade player of the year my senior year of high school!"
umm, Logan, you DO realize that being the best player in the state of missouri and being the best player in GA or Florida or Texas or Ohio or even Virginia is a little different, right? You maybe were the best QB coming out of the state of Mizzou your senior year, but Aaron Murray was the best (maybe second best behind Tom Savage) QB in Florida his year and Mettenberger was the best QB his year (sorry tamburo) in GA, right?
does he see the difference? if he is THAT stupid, then perhaps he shouldn't be a QB...
I hate to say this about somebody, but he just isn't a big-time SEC QB. Think about it....if he was any good, he WOULD have played last season. The coaches at the time looked at the "athlete" that is Logan Gray and said, "we'd rather go with the crapsack that IS Joe Cox."
But SURE Logan, you go to K-State. ...... where there is ZERO guarantee that you'll be the starting QB your ONE YEAR THERE!
if he REALLY wants to transfer, he should transfer to Furman or App State, somewhere where he will CERTAINLY be named the starter AS SOON AS HE STEPS ONTO CAMPUS. Georgia State perhaps.........
And what if Aaron Murray craps his pants against SoCar? You're just assuming you won't be called upon? what if Murray breaks his leg again or has the tendonitis flare up again?
man, logan gray is friggin' stoopid.
oh, "I was the Missouri Gatorade player of the year my senior year of high school!"
umm, Logan, you DO realize that being the best player in the state of missouri and being the best player in GA or Florida or Texas or Ohio or even Virginia is a little different, right? You maybe were the best QB coming out of the state of Mizzou your senior year, but Aaron Murray was the best (maybe second best behind Tom Savage) QB in Florida his year and Mettenberger was the best QB his year (sorry tamburo) in GA, right?
does he see the difference? if he is THAT stupid, then perhaps he shouldn't be a QB...
I hate to say this about somebody, but he just isn't a big-time SEC QB. Think about it....if he was any good, he WOULD have played last season. The coaches at the time looked at the "athlete" that is Logan Gray and said, "we'd rather go with the crapsack that IS Joe Cox."
But SURE Logan, you go to K-State. ...... where there is ZERO guarantee that you'll be the starting QB your ONE YEAR THERE!
if he REALLY wants to transfer, he should transfer to Furman or App State, somewhere where he will CERTAINLY be named the starter AS SOON AS HE STEPS ONTO CAMPUS. Georgia State perhaps.........
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)